Han Dong-hoon announces candidacy for PPP chief

Competition for ruling party leadership intensifies

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Han Dong-hoon, the former interim head of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), who has kept a low profile since the party’s defeat in the April 10 legislative elections, announced his candidacy for party leadership on Sunday , pledging to seek to re-establish a horizontal party-government relationship.

The PPP plans to hold a national convention on July 23 to elect a new leader.

Han stressed his intention to establish a more equal relationship between the party and the government. He noted that, so far, the party has been unable to express even reasonable criticism of the government’s policies or policy decisions.

“I will restore relations between the party and the government in a horizontal manner,” Han said. “The party must cooperate faithfully with the government, but I will not mind providing reasonable monitoring, criticism and suggestions for change when necessary.”

He also promised to restore the Conservative Party’s public reputation and reform the party.

“I will rebuild a party that understands the needs and expectations of the public, supporters and members. I will seek closer cooperation between the party and the government,” Han said at a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul.

“I will use the experience of losing (an election) as a foundation for change and victory.”

Han, a former prosecutor and President Yoon Suk Yeol’s first justice minister, became interim leader of the conservative party in December and led a tough election campaign to help the party regain voters’ trust. Despite these efforts, the party won only 108 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, and Han resigned taking responsibility for the defeat.

On the same day, Rep. Na Kyung-won and former Land Minister Won Hee-ryong, who lost to Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Jae-myung in the legislative elections, also announced their candidacy for the head of the party.

Na highlighted her experience as a five-term lawmaker, while Won highlighted her ability to communicate seamlessly with the presidential office.

Presenting herself as the ideal person to reform the party, Na said: “As a lawmaker, I have managed to stay away from factional conflicts within the party. I will put all my wisdom, my strategy and my experience at the service of the return to power of the conservatives. There is no time for trial and error. I can make the Yoon administration a success. We will overcome difficulties and find solutions to problems. “

Won said he could guide the party to victory by forming “one team.”

“The party-government relationship can only be established if there is trust. I have trust in Chairman Yoon and vice versa,” he said. “I will without hesitation convey the sentiments of the party and the public to the president and share the result with the citizens. I will cooperate but I will not kneel.”

Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, another five-term lawmaker, announced his candidacy Friday, making the election a four-way race. Yoon appealed to traditional conservative supporters, saying, “The party leader must be someone who fought and won against the KDP, who has deep trust in the president, and who can speak out on various issues.” »

Han clashed with Yoon over politically sensitive issues in the run-up to the election, including how to handle allegations about first lady Kim Keon Hee that she received a luxury bag as a gift in 2022.

Han has garnered unwavering support from conservative supporters. In a June 14-15 Gallup Korea poll of 1,008 adults on the popularity of potential PPP presidential candidates, Han received 59 percent support, followed by Na at 10 percent.

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo and former PPP lawmaker Yoo Seong-min, who were seen as potential contenders, ruled themselves out of the position. Ahn said he would not run for party leadership, adding that he would focus on more pressing tasks.

“I will not run for party leader. I have concluded that it is a meaningless challenge,” Yoo wrote on Facebook on Friday.

The candidates were divided over a special counsel’s investigation into allegations that the Yoon administration influenced the military investigation into the death of a Marine last year. The DPK pushed the bill unilaterally despite the PPP’s boycott and presidential veto.

Han said the PPP should push for the bill to dispel doubts about the government’s alleged interference in the military investigation.

Na and Won said they may discuss the bill once ongoing investigations by the Senior Officials Corruption Investigation Bureau are finalized.

The bill sought to launch an investigation by an independent lawyer into alleged government interference in the military investigation into Marine Corporal’s death. Chae Su-geun during a flood rescue operation in July 2023. The KDP and smaller opposition parties suspect the allegations could implicate senior government officials, potentially including the president himself.