Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo on Monday hinted at the possibility of running in the next presidential election, which could be held early depending on the Constitutional Court's decision in President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial.
The Daegu mayor wrote via Facebook that he was feeling “rushed” as the end of his term as the mayor was approaching faster than he expected.
Hong, who was elected mayor of Daegu in the June 2022 local elections, is slotted to serve until June 2026, as mayoral terms are four years. Hong's reference to a possible early departure suggests he may step down before completing his tenure to pursue a different path, according to observers.
The prosecutor-turned-politician has also been increasingly vocal about the recent political turmoil sparked by Yoon's martial law declaration and his subsequent impeachment by parliament.
Also in an interview with the Monthly Chosun on Thursday, the former presidential candidate from the conservative bloc hinted at running for president, saying he is the only one with “experience during former President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment election.” Following Park’s impeachment in 2017, Hong was nominated as the main conservative candidate but was defeated by the Democratic Party's Moon Jae-in.
After graduating from Korea University, Hong began his career as a prosecutor, earning public recognition for his work on high-profile corruption and organized crime cases. Building on his reputation from his legal career, Hong entered politics in the mid-1990s and was elected as a conservative party lawmaker in 1996, serving multiple terms.
Hong has also held other notable political roles, becoming governor of South Gyeongsang Province in 2012, where he focused on regional economic development and administrative reform. After losing to Moon in 2017, Hong served as leader of the Liberty Korea Party, from which the current conservative People Power Party emerged.
Hong is also well known for his bold language and carefree demeanor. In the 2021 presidential primaries, Hong was Yoon’s main competitor, as his strong, distinctive personality especially resonated with young male voters. Since being elected mayor of Daegu in 2022, Hong has avoided in-party conflicts and power struggles, voicing sharp criticism through social media instead.
lee.jungjoo@heraldcorp.com
