Han Ki-ho Resigns as Secretary General over 'Lee Jun-seok Appointment'... "Crisis Management Committee Must Resolve Confusion"

Hong Cheol-ho, Vice President of Strategic Planning, and Kang Dae-sik, Vice President of Organization, Resign Together

Han Gi-ho, Secretary General of the People Power Party. / Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Han Ki-ho, Secretary General of the People Power Party, along with Hong Cheol-ho, Vice Chairman of Strategic Planning, and Kang Dae-sik, Vice Chairman of Organization, resigned together on the 8th.

Secretary General Han stated in a notice to the People Power Party press corps that morning, "The three officers who oversaw party affairs?the Secretary General, Vice Chairman of Strategic Planning, and Vice Chairman of Organization?will step down from their party positions as of today." He added, "We deeply thank everyone who has helped us, despite our many shortcomings, to carry out our duties as party officials under the current leadership." Han was appointed as the first Secretary General under party leader Lee Jun-seok's administration in June last year, temporarily relinquished the position to Assemblyman Kwon Young-se during the presidential election period, and was reappointed in March.

Han said, "At tomorrow's National Committee meeting, an emergency response committee chairperson will be appointed to manage the current turmoil," and added, "Once the emergency committee chairperson is appointed, the party will start anew with a new leadership team. Therefore, we believe it is proper for us, who served under the previous leadership, to step down from our party positions."

He also explained, "We must never forget the reason why the people chose the People Power Party for a regime change," and warned, "If internal conflicts and divisions within the party push aside the people's livelihood and reforms, public support will wane and the momentum for national governance will disappear."

Along with this, Secretary General Han emphasized, "I sincerely hope that the party, led by the new emergency committee, will unite quickly to resolve the confusion and find its footing to fulfill its role as the ruling party."

Before officially transitioning to the People Power Party emergency committee system at the National Committee meeting on the 9th, the current leadership has been resigning consecutively, seemingly to support the change. On the same morning, Supreme Council member Jung Mi-kyung also held a press conference at the National Assembly and announced her decision to step down from her position, stating, "Right now, resolving the party's confusion and division quickly is the top priority."