Hong Joon-pyo shrugs off political comeback talk, vows to stay out of arena

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo shrugged off speculation about a political comeback Tuesday, saying he has "not the slightest intention" of running in another election or returning to politics.

In a Facebook post, Hong doubled down on that stance, recalling remarks he made late last year on TV Chosun's program "Gangjeokdeul": "A tiger, however hungry, does not eat grass, and a seonbi — a Confucian scholar — no matter how cold, does not warm himself by a bonfire of chaff."

Hong said he is "living freely as the wind, seeing the world with both eyes, unbound by party affiliation." He added that he would be willing to offer candid counsel on South Korea's future if he still has the capacity to do so.

He then called for an end to what he described as baseless attacks. "If the misunderstanding has been cleared up, please refrain from groundless slander," he wrote. "I pay no attention whatsoever to the bickering of ignorant nobodies. I walk the right path today, as I always have."

He added that he is "enjoying life these days as a dilettante — someone who pursues things simply for the love of them."

The remarks came after Hong drew sharp criticism from some hard-line conservative supporters following a makgeolli lunch with President Lee Jae-myung and his public endorsement of Kim Boo-kyum, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Daegu mayor. Critics accused him of "begging for a position" and called him a "traitor."