Former Daegu mayor posts warning on Facebook, says public backlash makes situation irreversible

Kim Hyun-ji, first deputy chief of staff at Cheong Wa Dae [Newsis]
Kim Hyun-ji, first deputy chief of staff at Cheong Wa Dae [Newsis]

Hong Jun-pyo, former mayor of Daegu, urged President Lee Jae Myung to sever ties with Kim Hyun-ji, first deputy chief of staff at Cheong Wa Dae and a key figure in Lee's inner circle, warning that the break must come "before public sentiment deteriorates further."

Hong posted the message on Facebook on Tuesday, according to political circles. "Choi Soon-sil (later renamed Choi Seo-won), Kim Keon Hee, Kim Hyun-ji — every administration has had its women behind the throne making things difficult," he wrote. "Shouldn't the Lee Jae Myung administration also cut ties with this before public sentiment gets any worse?"

He went on to say, "Regardless of what is true or false, you must understand that once the public turns against you, no measure you take will matter — all is lost," offering the blunt counsel with a classical Chinese phrase meaning that nothing more can be done.

Kim has been close to Lee since his days as a civic activist in Seongnam and is widely regarded as one of the administration's most influential insiders. She has come under scrutiny over personnel vetting failures amid a slide in the president's approval rating, particularly following the withdrawal of nominees Yong Hye-in for minister of gender equality and family and Kim Seung-won for minister of justice.

After Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik abruptly submitted his resignation Monday to take responsibility for the personnel failures, the People Power Party demanded that President Lee personally explain himself to the public rather than engage in what it called "tail-cutting to protect a hidden power broker inside Cheong Wa Dae." The party said holding those responsible accountable and issuing a public apology would be "the only genuine way to resolve what the administration itself created."


jshan@heraldcorp.com