PoliticianPolitical leaning: ConservativeProfile last reviewed: 2026-07-29
Hong Joon-pyo
Former Daegu mayor; retired conservative heavyweight
Strongman nostalgia: abolish the Constitutional Court, resume executions, restore "familism" — then walk away as an ordinary citizen.
Former prosecutor, five-term lawmaker, Liberty Korea Party 2017 presidential nominee, and Daegu mayor (2022–2025). Ran again in the 2025 PPP primary on a "Seventh Republic" constitutional overhaul, lost the second round, and announced retirement from politics after 30 years.
Basis for the leaning assessment
Right-wing populist: social conservatism, chaebol-friendly economics, hawkish North Korea posture, capital punishment revival, anti-antidiscrimination law. Among Korea's most consistently conservative national figures. Editorial estimate of +65.
Current Stances
Stances are editorial interpretations, always shown with the statements and actions they rest on.
Constitutional Revisionobserved 2025-04-14 – 2025-04-15
Seventh Republic overhaul: abolish the Constitutional Court, create a constitutional tribunal inside the Supreme Court,…
Seventh Republic overhaul: abolish the Constitutional Court, create a constitutional tribunal inside the Supreme Court, restore Cheong Wa Dae, and launch reform via presidential task force on day one.
Supporting statements & actions (2)
2025-04-14Social post
Framed the June 3 election as a binary choice between a Hong administration and a Lee Jae-myung administration; campaign slogan "Toward the seventh republic, ushering in the era of a leading nation."
Facebook statement declaring his third presidential bid after resigning as Daegu mayor; election triggered by Yoon's impeachment.
2025-04-15Speech
I will start the constitutional reform immediately after I take office by launching a presidential task force for the reform. Criticized the Constitutional Court for "losing political neutrality" and pledged to abolish it, transferring functions to a Supreme Court division; also pledged to move the presidential office back to Cheong Wa Dae.
Policy vision event at campaign office in Seoul one day after announcing his bid.
Gender & Family Policyobserved 2025-04-18 – 2025-04-18
Explicit "familism": reject antidiscrimination law, treat LGBTQ+ issues and radical feminism as social problems to be…
Explicit "familism": reject antidiscrimination law, treat LGBTQ+ issues and radical feminism as social problems to be solved, restore family-centered community against political correctness.
Supporting statements & actions (1)
2025-04-18Publication
Pledged to resume executions for violent criminals; opposed the proposed antidiscrimination law; named low birth rates, abortion, divorce, sex crimes, LGBTQ+ and drugs as social problems, criticizing radical feminism and political correctness as encroaching on "family-centered" community and calling for "familism."
Part of his "100+1 National Grand Reform for an Advanced Nation" plan; South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997.
Death-penalty revival and anti-antidiscrimination stance lit up progressive SNS and cemented his hard-right brand.
LGBTQ+ Rightsobserved 2025-04-18 – 2025-04-18
Lists LGBTQ+ among social problems to address; opposes proposed antidiscrimination legislation.
Lists LGBTQ+ among social problems to address; opposes proposed antidiscrimination legislation.
Supporting statements & actions (1)
2025-04-18Publication
Pledged to resume executions for violent criminals; opposed the proposed antidiscrimination law; named low birth rates, abortion, divorce, sex crimes, LGBTQ+ and drugs as social problems, criticizing radical feminism and political correctness as encroaching on "family-centered" community and calling for "familism."
Part of his "100+1 National Grand Reform for an Advanced Nation" plan; South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997.
Death-penalty revival and anti-antidiscrimination stance lit up progressive SNS and cemented his hard-right brand.
Goals
Short-term
Win the presidency (third bid)
Failed2025 PPP primary run framed as the final mission of a 30-year career; eliminated in second round, then retired.
Declared: 2025-04-29Source ↗
Long-term
Establish a Seventh Republic
FailedConstitutional restructuring including abolishing the Constitutional Court and relocating the presidential office to Cheong Wa Dae.
Declared: 2025-04-15Source ↗
Consistency Tracker
Does each new statement or decision square with the record? Verdicts are not accusations: both sides of the record are presented so readers can judge for themselves.
Consistent
Earlier statement / action
2025-04-14Social post
Framed the June 3 election as a binary choice between a Hong administration and a Lee Jae-myung administration; campaign slogan "Toward the seventh republic, ushering in the era of a leading nation."
Facebook statement declaring his third presidential bid after resigning as Daegu mayor; election triggered by Yoon's impeachment.
Later statement / action
2025-04-29Speech
My role in this presidential race ends here. I thank the people and party members who supported me over the past 30 years. (Would return as an ordinary citizen "someone people can meet freely in the markets and on the streets.")
Announced retirement after elimination in the PPP second-round primary; Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon advanced.
Hong cast the race as the last mission of his career and exited immediately when the primary ended — matching his own framing. Critics note the pattern of dramatic runs (2017, 2021, 2025) ending in defeat, and question whether "retirement" sticks given past returns; his own Facebook post admitted he nearly left after losing to Yoon three years earlier.
Most-Cited Sources from Voterscommunity reading list
Articles readers attached to their poll votes as evidence. Only pages cited independently by two or more voters are listed.
- 1en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250415006100315 ↗
Cited by 6 voters
Liberal 1Conservative 5 - 2www.koreaherald.com/article/10468753 ↗
Cited by 5 voters
Conservative 5 - 3www.koreaherald.com/article/10476939 ↗
Cited by 5 voters
Liberal 1Conservative 4
Most-Discussed Moments
The statements and actions that set social media on fire — top 1, in chronological order. Every entry links to its source.
- 2025-04-18Publication
Pledged to resume executions for violent criminals; opposed the proposed antidiscrimination law; named low birth rates, abortion, divorce, sex crimes, LGBTQ+ and drugs as social problems, criticizing radical feminism and political correctness as encroaching on "family-centered" community and calling for "familism."
Part of his "100+1 National Grand Reform for an Advanced Nation" plan; South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997.
Death-penalty revival and anti-antidiscrimination stance lit up progressive SNS and cemented his hard-right brand.
Timeline of Statements & Actions6 records, newest first
2025-04-29Social post
Although I regret not being able to usher in the era of an "advanced great nation" of the Seventh Republic, I believe my juniors will do well. (Also: "I will now return to being a citizen.")
Facebook post after primary defeat, hinting at leaving the PPP as a factionless outsider.
2025-04-29Speech
My role in this presidential race ends here. I thank the people and party members who supported me over the past 30 years. (Would return as an ordinary citizen "someone people can meet freely in the markets and on the streets.")
Announced retirement after elimination in the PPP second-round primary; Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon advanced.
2025-04-18Publication
Pledged to resume executions for violent criminals; opposed the proposed antidiscrimination law; named low birth rates, abortion, divorce, sex crimes, LGBTQ+ and drugs as social problems, criticizing radical feminism and political correctness as encroaching on "family-centered" community and calling for "familism."
Part of his "100+1 National Grand Reform for an Advanced Nation" plan; South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997.
Death-penalty revival and anti-antidiscrimination stance lit up progressive SNS and cemented his hard-right brand.