Hong Joon-pyo

He was born in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Hong graduated from Yeungnam High School and received a Bachelor of Laws degree from Korea University. Due to being underweight, he was discharged from the army after only fourteen months of service.{{Cite web |last=Tae |first=Heejun |date=2017-04-25 |title=Impact Player: Hong Jun-pyo |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/impact-player-hong-jun-pyo |language=en}}

In January 1996, Hong joined the New Korea Party. He was elected for the Songpa A constituency during the 1996 election and entered the National Assembly for the first time.{{cite web |script-title=ko:홍준표 "26년 여의도 정치 떠난다…의원직 사퇴서 제출" |url=https://www.chosun.com/politics/politics_general/2022/04/26/RZLXZEVLVBDPBNR2IVLSDWEHQA/ |website=The Chosun Ilbo |access-date=2 May 2022 |language=ko |date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426051327/https://www.chosun.com/politics/politics_general/2022/04/26/RZLXZEVLVBDPBNR2IVLSDWEHQA/ |archive-date=26 April 2022 |url-status=live}}

Hong was formerly the chairperson of the Grand National Party (which changed its name to the Saenuri Party in 2012 and again changed its name to the Liberty Korea Party in 2017). He stepped down as the chairperson on 9 December 2011 and was replaced by future President Park Geun-hye.{{cite news|url=https://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20111209000573|title=Hong bows out amid mounting calls for reform|last=Lee|first=Sun-young|date=9 December 2011|work=The Korea Herald|access-date=10 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209195026/https://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20111209000573 |archive-date=9 December 2011 |url-status=dead}}

On 20 October 2011, Hong criticized Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's The Beautiful Foundation ({{Korean|hangul=아름다운재단|labels=no}}) for sending money to left-wing citizen groups.{{cite news|url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2011/10/20/0200000000AKR20111020040151001.HTML|last=Kim (김)|first=Ho-jun (호준)|date=20 October 2011|work=Yonhap News Agency |language=ko|script-title=ko:아름다운재단 모금액 좌파단체 지원|access-date=22 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305044743/http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2011/10/20/0200000000AKR20111020040151001.HTML |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=dead}} Hong was known to have generated much criticism against Park Won-soon in regards to Park's possible allegation of extorting tax money for his oversea visits.{{cite news|url=http://news.hankooki.com/lpage/politics/201110/h2011102102383921000.htm|last=Chang (장)|first=Jae-yong (재용)|date=21 October 2011|work=Hankook Ilbo|language=ko|script-title=ko:13차례 걸쳐 해외체류… 경비 2~3억 누가 댔나|access-date=10 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104185352/http://news.hankooki.com/lpage/politics/201110/h2011102102383921000.htm|archive-date=4 November 2011}}

He considered to rename the Grand National Party to another name after Park Won-soon won the October 2011 election.{{cite news|url=http://www.edaily.co.kr/news/NewsRead.edy?SCD=DA32&newsid=02433766596417512&DCD=A01503&OutLnkChk=Y|last=Lee (이)|first=Min-jeong (민정)|date=28 October 2011|work=Edaily|language=ko|script-title=ko:`이참에 다 바꿔?`..홍준표 "당명 개명 검토"|access-date=29 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331064327/http://www.edaily.co.kr/news/NewsRead.edy?SCD=DA32&newsid=02433766596417512&DCD=A01503&OutLnkChk=Y |archive-date=31 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}

Hong was first elected as Governor of South Gyeongsang Province in 2012 and re-elected in 2014.

Hong secured the nomination of the Liberty Korea Party. His campaign appealed to older, conservative voters with a platform describing Hong as a "strongman." Hong has stated he wanted to be a strong man similar to Park Chung Hee, a former Korean president and dictator who is popular with older conservatives{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-08/south-korean-election-candidates/8508008|title=Meet the candidates in South Korea's unusual election|date=8 May 2017|work=ABC News Australia|access-date=8 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508112412/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-08/south-korean-election-candidates/8508008 |archive-date=8 May 2017 |url-status=live}} and whose daughter Park Geun-hye was recently impeached amidst allegations of corruption.

Hong finished second among the five major candidates with 24% of the vote behind Moon Jae-in.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/09/asia/south-korea-election/index.html|title=South Korea election: Moon Jae-in declared winner|author1=K. J. Kwon |author2=Pamela Boykoff |author3=James Griffiths|website=CNN|date=9 May 2017|access-date=10 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509055319/http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/09/asia/south-korea-election/index.html |archive-date=9 May 2017 |url-status=live}}

Hong was elected as the leader of Liberty Korea Party following his loss in the presidential election.{{Cite news|url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170702000253|title=Will new leader turn around Liberty Korea Party?|date=2 July 2017|access-date=4 July 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702125726/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170702000253 |archive-date=2 July 2017 |url-status=live}} After leading the party to a massive loss in the 2018 local elections on 13 June 2018, Hong resigned as party leader on 14 June 2018.{{Cite web|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2018/06/14/0200000000AEN20180614007451315.html|title =(LEAD) Main opposition steps down over election defeat |work=Yonhap News Agency|date=14 June 2018|access-date=17 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702125726/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170702000253 |archive-date=2 July 2017 |url-status=dead}}

On 17 February 2020, the Liberty Korea Party dissolved and merged with several other parties to become the United Future Party. Hong left the United Future Party in March 2020 after party leaders decided not to give him a candidacy in any of the upcoming 2020 legislative elections.{{cite news |last1=Ser |first1=Myo-ja |title=Hong Joon-pyo returns to PPP, announces presidential retry |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/06/24/national/politics/Hong-Joonpyo-People-Power-Party-Yoon-Seokyoul/20210624150300539.html |access-date=9 August 2021 |work=Korea JoongAng Daily |date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625062514/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/06/24/national/politics/Hong-Joonpyo-People-Power-Party-Yoon-Seokyoul/20210624150300539.html |archive-date=25 June 2021 |url-status=live}} Running as an independent candidate, Hong won the National Assembly election of Suseong B in Daegu on 15 April 2020.

On 24 June 2021, Hong rejoined the People Power Party (which had formerly been called the United Future Party until 2 September 2020) and signaled a presidential bid in the upcoming 2022 South Korean presidential election.

On 29 June 2021, Hong Joon-pyo officially entered the 2022 presidential election.{{cite news |last1=김 |first1=미나 |script-title=ko:홍준표, 윤석열 출마선언날 대선 도전 공식화 원문보기 |url=https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/politics/assembly/1001421.html |access-date=9 August 2021 |work=The Hankyoreh |date=29 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629122925/https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/politics/assembly/1001421.html |archive-date=29 June 2021 |url-status=live}} He placed 2nd in the final round of the primaries behind the winner Yoon Seok-yeol, winning 41.5 percent of the votes.{{cite web |last1=Ko |first1=Jun-tae |title=Yoon Seok-youl picked as presidential nominee for People Power Party |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20211105000575 |website=The Korea Herald |access-date=2 May 2022 |language=en |date=5 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105062033/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20211105000575 |archive-date=5 November 2021 |url-status=live}} On 26 April 2022, Hong resigned from the National Assembly after he was chosen as the People Power's nominee for the mayor of Daegu. He went on to win the election for mayor of Daegu and begin his term on 1 July 2022.{{cite news | url=https://www.koreaherald.com/article/2880374 | title=Hong adds Daegu mayor to his unconventional career trajectory | newspaper=The Korea Herald | date=2 June 2022 | access-date=5 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114080833/https://www.koreaherald.com/article/2880374 |archive-date=14 January 2025 |url-status=live}}

Following the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis in December, Hong did not explicitly state his support for any side, but said he understood the "loyalty" of President Yoon Suk Yeol while describing his actions as reckless and "making a scene".{{Cite news |last1=Yoon|first1=Min-sik |date=4 December 2024 |title=Ex-PM and other politicians accused of 'supporting' martial law |url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241204050106 |access-date=4 December 2024 |work=The Korea Herald}} Later that month, Hong said that he would run for president in the event of an early presidential election. In February 2025, Hong said that he would step down as mayor in the event that the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol was upheld.{{cite news | url=https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10427303 | title=Daegu mayor confirms presidential ambition| newspaper=The Korea Herald | date=24 February 2025 | access-date=24 February 2025}}

A day after the removal of Yoon Suk Yeol from office by the Constitutional Court of Korea, Hong expressed his interest in a presidential bid, saying in a statement on Facebook: "I have been thoroughly preparing for this election, considering it the final mission of my 30-year political career. Starting next week, I will proceed step by step with the necessary procedures."{{Cite web |first=Seung-hyun |last=Song |date=2025-04-05 |title=Presidential hopefuls gear up for race; Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo first to enter |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10458655 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=The Korea Herald |language=en}} Shortly before officially announcing his campaign for the 2025 South Korean presidential election, Hong stepped down as Daegu mayor.{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hong-joon-pyo-resigns-as-daegu-mayor/ar-AA1CIL3W?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=www.msn.com}}{{Cite web |date=2025-04-10 |title=Hong Joon-pyo resigns as Daegu mayor to run for president, eyes election victory |url=https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-policy/2025/04/10/ZBNJE5VQFRHQTGQDPST2SEQMCA/ |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=ChosunBiz |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=11 April 2025 |title=Hong Joon-pyo resigns as Daegu mayor |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/PYH20250411114500315 |access-date=13 April 2025 |website=Yonhap News Agency}} He officially declared his candidacy on 14 April.{{Cite web |date=14 April 2025 |title=Ex-Daegu Mayor Hong declares presidential bid |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250414005300315 |access-date=14 April 2025 |website=Yonhap News Agency |last1=Wonju |first1=Yi }} Although he advanced from the first round, he ultimately failed to make it to the runoff in the primaries held by the People Power Party.{{cite web |last1=Kim |first1=Eun-jung |title=(2nd LD) PPP presidential primary narrowed to 2 final contenders |work=Yonhap News Agency |date=29 April 2025 |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250429002252315 |publisher=Yonhap News Agency |access-date=29 April 2025}} After his loss, Hong announced that he would retire from politics and leave the People Power party.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-29 |script-title=ko:정계은퇴 선언한 홍준표 "내일 탈당, 더 머물 명분 없어" |url=https://www.chosun.com/politics/election2025/2025/04/29/WDKVFJSVIJFTZMRZHDSJ36ORMA/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=The Chosun Ilbo |language=ko}}{{Cite web |date=2025-04-29 |title=After primary defeat, Hong Joon-pyo quits politics |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10476939 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=The Korea Herald |language=ko}} Hong stated: "I am very thankful that I can graduate from my political life today honorably and cleanly thanks to the care shown to me by party members and the public over the last 30 years."{{Cite web |date=2025-04-29 |title=Hong Joon-pyo announces retirement: 'I will now return to being a citizen' |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-29/national/politics/Hong-Joonpyo-announces-retirement-I-will-now-return-to-being-a-citizen/2296331 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily |language=en}}

Hong is famous for his right-wing populism, advocating for social conservatism and hawkish approaches to diplomatic issues.

Hong holds economically conservative views. He supports Korean conglomerates, also known as chaebols and wants to reduce the power of trade unions. When asked how he would respond to growing concerns around corrupt practices amongst chaebols, such as those that brought down former President Park Geun-hye's administration, he stated that he would reduce corruption by putting it through a "washing machine".{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/08/world/asia/south-korea-election-president.html|title=South Korea's Presidential Election: A Look at the Pivotal Issues|last=Mullany|first=Gerry|date=8 May 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=8 May 2017|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508125118/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/08/world/asia/south-korea-election-president.html |archive-date=8 May 2017 |url-status=live}}

Hong has supported maintaining a vigilant approach to national security, supporting the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) from the United States. He supports "armed peace." Hong has stated that he supports the nuclear armament of South Korea.{{cite news |title=South Korean opposition leader: Nukes are the only way to guarantee peace |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/18/asia/south-korea-trump-nukes/index.html |work=CNN |date=18 October 2017 |access-date=30 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019054950/https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/18/asia/south-korea-trump-nukes/index.html |archive-date=19 October 2017 |url-status=live}}

Hong has publicly indicated that he believes that AIDS and HIV are a result of homosexuality, in order to attract the support of conservative voters. In a televised presidential debate, Hong criticized Moon Jae-in on his stances on homosexuality and remarked gay soldiers were a source of weakness in Korean military.{{cite web|title=[JTBC 대선토론] 문재인 "동성애 합법화 반대"…심상정 "유감스럽다"|url=https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=015&aid=0003761058|website=Naver|publisher=The Korea Economic Daily|access-date=7 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928044141/https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=015&aid=0003761058 |archive-date=28 September 2018 |url-status=live}}

Hong directed civil servants to obstruct the Daegu Queer Culture Festival in 2023 after attempts to halt the festival in court failed. Police intervened to allow the festival to proceed.{{cite news |last1=Hawkinson |first1=Katie |title=A South Korean mayor led hundreds of city officials to stop an annual pride festival but police intervened to protect organizers and allow the event to proceed |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/south-korean-mayor-tried-to-block-pride-festival-police-intervened-2023-6 |access-date=28 April 2024 |work=Business Insider |date=17 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617183804/https://www.businessinsider.com/south-korean-mayor-tried-to-block-pride-festival-police-intervened-2023-6 |archive-date=17 June 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Gregory |first1=James |title=South Korea: Police clash with officials over Daegu LGBT event |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65939702 |publisher=BBC News |date=17 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617142622/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65939702 |archive-date=17 June 2023 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3149967|title = Daegu mayor blasts police chief over Pride parade|date =18 June 2023 | newspaper=The Korea Herald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114081937/https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3149967 |archive-date=14 January 2025 |url-status=live}}

Hong supports the death penalty. In 2017, he said he would revive capital punishment if elected.{{Cite web|url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170501000659|title = Hong says will execute criminals on death row|date = 1 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501091822/https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170501000659 | newspaper=The Korea Herald|archive-date=1 May 2017 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/09/251_314858.html|title=Horrific crimes reignite debate over death penalty|date=1 September 2021 | newspaper=The Korea Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901090547/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/09/251_314858.html |archive-date=1 September 2021 |url-status=live}}

• 2017 South Korean presidential election
• Lee Myung-bak government
• Liberty Korea Party
• Right-wing populism

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Category:1954 births

Category:21st-century mayors of places in South Korea

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Category:Presidency of Lee Myung-bak

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Category:South Korean anti-communists

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Category:Governors of South Gyeongsang Province

Category:Discrimination against LGBTQ people in South Korea

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Category:People from Changnyeong County

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