Life Summary
Hong Joon-pyo is the Mayor of Daegu Metropolitan City.

He is considered one of the potential presidential candidates from the conservative camp. By winning the 2022 local election with a high vote share, he secured a foothold for a possible future presidential bid after a previous failed attempt.

As Mayor of Daegu, Hong focuses on key tasks such as the construction of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport, fostering five advanced industries, resolving Daegu’s water supply issues, and restructuring public institutions.

Amid declining approval ratings for the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the ruling People Power Party in 2024, Hong is expected to play a significant role as a senior figure within the party.

He was born on December 5, 1954, in Changnyeong County, Gyeongsangnam-do.

Hong graduated from Yeongnam High School in Daegu and studied Public Administration at Korea University.

He passed the bar exam and became a prosecutor, gaining fame as a tough prosecutor in the Criminal Division, notably for his investigation into the slot machine scandal, which inspired the prosecutor character in the drama 'Sandglass.'

He left the prosecution after serving as Legal Adviser to the Director of the National Security Planning Agency (NSP). He entered politics at the suggestion of President Kim Young-sam.

Hong ran for the National Assembly in Songpa District, Seoul, and was elected but lost his seat due to a violation of election laws.

He returned to the National Assembly after winning a seat in Dongdaemun District, Seoul, and was re-elected three times in the same district, during which he served as the floor leader and senior member of the Grand National Party, eventually becoming party leader.

After losing in the 19th National Assembly election, Hong ran in the by-election for Gyeongsangnam-do Governor and won, successfully securing re-election. He paid off the province’s debt during his term but faced constant controversy due to his blunt speaking style.

In the 19th presidential election, he ran as the candidate for the Liberty Korea Party but was defeated by Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party.

As the leader of the Liberty Korea Party, Hong led the party through the 7th local elections but suffered a significant loss, with traditional strongholds like Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam falling to the opposition.

When he was denied a nomination by the United Future Party for the 21st National Assembly election, he ran as an independent candidate in Suseong District, Daegu, and won. He later rejoined the People Power Party.

Hong has maintained an independent stance within the conservative bloc, without affiliating with any particular faction.

He is known for his outspoken and direct speech, which has often led to controversy. This style resulted in his dismissal as Senior Advisor of the People Power Party and a 10-month suspension of party membership, weakening his position within the party.

#HongJoonpyo #DaeguMayor #ConservativePolitics #PeoplePowerParty #DirectSpeech #GyeongsangnamdoGovernor #LibertyKoreaParty #PresidentialCandidate #PoliticalControversy #IndependentStance