"Fresh Breeze, Symbolic Figure" Love Call for Han Dong-hoon
Kim Jong-in "Korean Politics Entry, President Yoon's Success is Decisive"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] The People Power Party is promoting the idea of recruiting Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, for the general election. Although there is still time until the general election scheduled for April 2024, the party is already anticipating the appearance of Minister Han, who has high public recognition, to boost election excitement and ensure victory.
On the 19th, People Power Party lawmaker Cho Soo-jin appeared on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" and said, "Personally, I hope (Minister Han) steps forward around the general election," adding, "We need someone who can create a big wave. Someone who embodies common sense and the value of fairness; it would be right for such a person to lead the election. (The party) definitely has a desire for a competent, relatively young, and new figure compared to the Democratic Party of Korea," she said.
She continued, "What is most difficult for the People Power Party right now is that although the regime has changed, we are still the opposition in the National Assembly," emphasizing, "For the Yoon Seok-yeol administration to succeed, it must be supported by the number of seats in the National Assembly. We must win in Seoul and the metropolitan area. We definitely need a fresh breeze to penetrate the metropolitan area," she stressed.
Former Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won also appeared on SBS Radio's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show" the same day, saying, "There is a high possibility that ministers who served in the Yoon Seok-yeol administration will participate in the general election, and (Minister Han) is very likely to be one of them," adding, "I hope he participates in the election as much as possible to help bring a new wind to politics. I think that will probably happen."
The emergence of the idea to recruit Minister Han within the People Power Party seems to stem from the judgment that winning the general election will be realistically difficult in the absence of symbolic figures like former leader Lee Jun-seok. Minister Han is seen as a figure symbolizing the first cabinet of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and as the right person to target the moderate electorate with his fresh and rational image.
However, when asked about his intention to run in the general election during the Ministry of Justice's National Assembly inspection on the 6th, Minister Han flatly replied, "I currently have no such thoughts." Nevertheless, since there is still considerable time until the general election in two years, and depending on the ruling party's situation and political trends, the idea of recruiting Minister Han is expected to be continuously mentioned.
Some analysts suggest that Minister Han will only be able to run if President Yoon's low approval rating, which is below 30%, recovers. People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Sang-beom said in an interview with MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus," "If the president's approval rating stabilizes above 40% and the presidential office and each executive department settle in their operations, there is a high possibility that Minister Han will run in the general election."
Former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in also predicted that "In Minister Han's case, whether President Yoon succeeds as president will play the most important role," forecasting that the evaluation of President Yoon will influence Minister Han's political future.
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