Hong Joon-pyo, “The power of a mayfly is brief... I always engage in politics thinking of the people’s support”

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo gets into the car and answers questions from the press after a meeting with People Power Party floor leader Yun Jae-ok at the National Assembly on July 17. Yonhap News

On August 8, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo (Hong Jun-pyo) said, “The power of mayflies lasts only for a brief moment,” and claimed, “What is important is the people’s support.” His words expressed his thoughts on the ten-month suspension of his party member rights following his controversial golf outing during the flood.

Hong wrote on his Facebook account, “I served eight times in elected office--five times as a legislator, twice as governor of Gyeongsangnam-do, and as mayor of Daegu--and ten times if you include the two terms I served as party leader, because I did not base my politics on factions, but on the people.”

He also wrote, “In a political arena where mayflies that are nothing but the pawns of factions run wild, I was able to serve in elected positions ten times because I engaged in politics with only the people’s support in mind.” He added, “Without public support, it is only a sandcastle.”

The People Power Party’s central ethics committee suspended Hong’s party member rights for ten months at the end of July after Hong drew criticism for playing golf when the nation suffered from floods. The committee’s decision acknowledged that Hong’s action was inappropriate. Since the suspension will last until next year’s parliamentary elections (April 10), Hong will inevitably suffer a political blow, for it prevents him from playing a leading role in the elections.

With Typhoon Khanun approaching, Mayor Hong announced that he would return from his vacation earlier than scheduled to prepare for the typhoon.