Why Hong Ik-pyo Says Presidential Photos Shouldn’t Influence Elections: A Deep Dive

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Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ik-pyo briefs on the Blue House emergency economic situation room(Seoul=Yonhap) Reporter Kim Do-hoon: Hong Ik-pyo, senior secretary for political affairs, briefed at the Blue House press office on March 25, 2026. superdoo82@yna.co.kr(Seoul=Yonhap) Reporter Kim Do-hoon: Hong Ik-pyo, senior secretary for political affairs, briefed at the Blue House press office on March 25, 2026. superdoo82@yna.co.kr

Hong Ik-pyo, the Blue House senior secretary for political affairs, said today (the 9th) that elections are the responsibility of the party, and it is inappropriate to repeatedly involve the Blue House in election matters.

Appearing on JTBC’s Lee Ga-hyuk Live, Hong denied reports that the ruling party issued directives during local primary contests — banning use of photos or videos of President Lee Jae-myung from before his inauguration — at the request of the Blue House, calling those reports false.

He said there is no reason to pull the Blue House into electoral issues, adding that party affairs and election operations are decisions for the party itself and not matters for the Blue House to dictate.

Regarding the ruling party’s so-called photo ban, he said the Blue House raised concerns about specific cases but never instructed the party to implement a blanket prohibition.

He explained that the Blue House repeatedly conveyed concerns to the party in various ways, primarily asking that the party warn those involved and advise against using videos that could create the impression the president was intervening in elections.

He said the Blue House never sent formal letters or asked the party to refrain from using pre-inauguration photos or videos, calling reports that the Blue House initiated such a request and the party then acted on it factually incorrect.

Hong noted that historically, when a president is popular, candidates tend to use the president’s images, and he suggested that some party members may have overreacted to the issue.

He added that a blanket official notice banning earlier photos would disproportionately disadvantage non-incumbent candidates who have fewer opportunities to meet the president, describing the party’s response as an overreach and an unnecessary episode.

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Sojae Hyung (sojay@yna.co.kr)