Hong Jun pyo

Early life and career

He was born in Changnyeong. South Gyeongsang Province. Hong graduated from Yeungnam High School and received his undergraduate degree in Public Administration from Korea University.

Hong has admitted to helping a friend in a failed date rape when he was 18 years old. This is recorded in a self-memoir "I Want to Go Back" published in 2005 under a chapter titled "The Story of the Pig Stimulant." Hong along with others secured a stimulant usually used in livestock to boost ovulation for their friend, who would secretly drug the girl. The girl successfully woke up from consciousness to fight off Hong's friend. Hong has stated it was a "huge mistake... after I became a prosecutor." This story resurfaced during the 2017 South Korean presidential election, with other presidential candidates calling for Hong's withdrawal from the race in the third presidential debate.

Political career

Hong is known to have strong right-wing conservative characteristics.

Grand National/Saenuri Party

Hong was formerly the chairperson of the Grand National Party (now known as Liberty Korea Party). He stepped down as the chairperson in December 9, 2011 and was replaced by future President Park Geun-hye.

Comments on Park Won-soon

On October 20, 2011, Hong criticized Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's The Beautiful Foundation (아름다운재단) for sending money to left-wing citizen groups. 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.

Comments on former Grand National Party

He considered to rename the Grand National Party to another name after Park Won-soon won the October 2011 election.

Governor of South Gyeongsang Province

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

2017 South Korean presidential election

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 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.

Party chairmanship

Hong was elected as the chairperson of the Liberty Korea Party following his loss in the presidential election.

Corporate corruption

Hong holds economically conservative views. He supports Korean conglomerates, also known as chaebols and wants to reduce the power of labor 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 simply stated that he would reduce corruption by putting it through a "washing machine", without providing a concrete course of action.

National security

Hong has supported maintaining a vigilant approach to national security, supporting the deployment of the Terminal High altitude Area Defense System (THAAD) from the United States. He supports "armed peace."

Anti-LGBT Stance

Despite modern consensus to the contrary, 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 remarked gay soldiers were a source of weakness in Korean military.