After primary defeat, Hong Joon-pyo quits politics

After 30 years in politics, 70-year-old conservative firebrand says 'will return to life as ordinary citizen'

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo leaves after announcing his retirement from politics at a press conference held in Yeouido, Seoul, on Tuesday. (Yonhap)

Hong Joon-pyo, former mayor of Daegu and a former five-term lawmaker, announced his retirement from politics Tuesday after being eliminated in the conservative People Power Party’s second-round presidential primary.

At a press conference held in his campaign headquaters in Seoul's Yeouido, the conservative politician said, "My role in this presidential race ends here. I thank the people and party members who supported me over the past 30 years."

He added he would return to life as an ordinary citizen, "someone people can meet freely in the markets and on the streets."

Hong’s retirement came shortly after his defeat in the People Power Party’s race to select a candidate for the June 3 presidential election. Former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo and former People Power Party chair Han Dong-hoon advanced to the final runoff, defeating Hong and Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo.

A former prosecutor, the 70-year-old Hong entered politics in 1996 after winning a parliamentary seat. He served five terms as a lawmaker and held key leadership roles within the conservative faction, including floor leader and chair of the Grand National Party — a predecessor to the People Power Party.

Hong also ran as the conservative camp’s flagbearer in the 2017 presidential election, but lost to Democratic Party of Korea candidate Moon Jae-in. In 2021, he made another presidential bid but was defeated in the party primary by Yoon Suk Yeol, then a political newcomer who later won the presidency.

Throughout his political career, Hong was widely known for his firebrand style and blunt, often provocative, remarks that earned him both strong support and fierce criticism.