Hong Joon-pyo protests investigation into election expenses

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo has issued a strong protest against ongoing investigations into his election expenses, characterizing them as a “separate investigation” (byeol-geon su-sa) triggered by a lack of results in the Myung Tae-kyun opinion poll case.

Hong claimed that the current administration has been conducting “background checks” on him and his family for a year, including searching his wife’s phone and scrutinizing election costs from the 2021 presidential primary through the 2025 Daegu mayoral election. He dismissed allegations of creating slush funds through fictitious transactions as false reports driven by personal grudges, noting that volunteers involved have been subjected to exit bans and intense questioning.

Hong questioned whether the investigation was a direct order from the Blue House or the independent decision of the Daegu Police Chief seeking career advancement. He demanded an explanation from the Lee Jae-myung administration, describing the tactics as “vile and petty.”