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Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo meets New Reform Party presidential candidate Lee Jun-seok at the VIP lounge of Incheon International Airport on May 10, before departing for the United States. / Source: Yonhap News

On the first day of early voting, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo launched a scathing attack on the ruling People Power Party (PPP), declaring on May 29 that the party "will disappear as a result of this presidential election."

His remarks come amid mounting calls within the party for him to support PPP candidate Kim Moon-soo. Earlier, PPP floor leader Kwon Seong-dong urged Hong—currently in the U.S.—to return and vote for Kim. However, Hong made it clear he has no intention of doing so.

“During Park Geun-hye’s impeachment, the party barely survived, but this time, it won’t,” Hong wrote on his social media account, adding, “Don’t blame others—brace for the winter ahead.”

He harshly criticized the party for ousting Lee Jun-seok “through groundless conspiracies” and for sidelining himself “through jealousy and two rigged primaries.” “How could a major political party behave in such a disgraceful way?” he asked.

“Don’t blame me or Lee Jun-seok,” he continued. “This is the result of your own poor choices—this is your just reward.”

He added, “Even a party impeached twice had a chance to recover, but your selfishness ruined even that.”

Although Hong reportedly told a PPP delegation sent to Hawaii that he would support Kim Moon-soo, he later posted a message on a public channel suggesting his real support may lie elsewhere: “Voting for Lee Jun-seok is not a wasted vote, but an investment in the future.”