Hong Joon-pyo: 'Where else would I go besides president?' — dismisses claims of currying favor with Lee

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo warned Friday that if the separation of powers were replaced by a consolidation of all three branches under one authority, "democracy in this country will disappear and an era of constitutional dictatorship will arrive."

Hong made the remarks in a Facebook post Friday, adding, "But shouldn't we stop that from happening?"

Hong said he had refrained from criticizing the Lee Jae Myung administration for the past year and five months out of a genuine hope that it would govern well and bring stability and prosperity to the country. "But the ignorant take that to mean I was currying favor with the Lee Jae Myung administration to land some position," he said.

He then shot back: "Aside from the presidency, what position is there left for me to take?"

Hong said that after 43 years of weathering every storm in politics, he had no further ambitions for office. "It is because of such ignorant people that the world keeps flowing in a murky direction," he added.

"I only wish for my country to be stable and prosperous," Hong said.