Warming Up Before General Election?… Han Dong-hoon Draws Attention by Attending Ruling Party Policy Meeting

Handonghun Attends People Power Party Meeting Today (6th)
Explains Establishment of Immigration and Immigration Management Agency
Korea "Glad to Discuss the Future of the Republic of Korea"
"This General Election is Handonghun's Time"

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon attended the People Power Party's policy parliamentary meeting on the 6th. The occasion was to explain the plan to establish the Immigration and Immigration Management Agency to ruling party lawmakers. As discussions about his role in next year's general election arise, this marked his debut at the parliamentary meeting, interpreted as a move to expand his political footprint ahead of the year-end cabinet reshuffle.

At the meeting, Minister Han said, "I am very pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the future of the Republic of Korea with the People Power Party lawmakers," and explained the necessity of establishing the Immigration and Immigration Management Agency.

He stated, "If no action is taken, a population disaster will become the future of Korea," adding, "When we look back ten years from now, we will be able to say, 'We made the right decision then,' but if we do nothing, we will regret, 'We really made a mistake then.'" He continued, "The fundamental measures to address the population disaster are increasing the birth rate and immigration policy," emphasizing, "This does not mean giving up on increasing the birth rate. However, relying solely on birth rate policies clearly has temporal and scale limitations to change the predetermined disastrous future."

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is performing the national salute at the People Power Party Policy Members' General Meeting held on the 6th at the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee meeting room. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Therefore, Minister Han's attendance at the parliamentary meeting on this day is not unprecedented. Last June, Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT gave a special lecture on semiconductors at a parliamentary meeting, and in March this year, Minister Won Hee-ryong of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport explained the main contents and purpose of the 'Special Act on the Maintenance and Support of Aging Planned Cities.'

However, Minister Han's recent political activities have drawn attention to his attendance at this meeting. Following his visit to Daegu, a conservative stronghold, on the 17th of last month, he immediately visited Daejeon. Since July, he has been expanding his nationwide engagement by visiting various livelihood sites such as the Mokpo shipyard, Jeonnam Provincial Office, the organization for restoring the honor of victims of the Jeju 4.3 Incident, and strawberry farms in Jeonbuk.

Although Minister Han was excluded from the recent cabinet reshuffle list, it is widely accepted within and outside the party that he will run in next year's general election. However, Minister Han drew a line on his role in the next general election during a press conference after the parliamentary meeting. He said, "There is nothing more to add beyond what I have said so far." Regarding the possibility of his replacement through an additional cabinet reshuffle, he said, "Although I am a political appointee, the issue of appointment and resignation is not something I decide," adding, "I believe I must do my best every day."

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is giving a proposal explanation on the "Plan to Establish the Immigration and Immigration Management Agency" at the People Power Party Policy Members' General Meeting held at the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee meeting room on the 6th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Within the party, voices are rising that Minister Han should run in next year's general election to generate momentum. This is because, following the defeat in the Seoul Gangseo District Office by-election in October, which confirmed the regime judgment theory, pessimism has spread that the Kim Ki-hyun leadership, which lacks expansiveness, cannot lead the general election. As the Innovation Committee led by In Yo-han, responsible for party reform, recently faced a crisis of collapse, it is argued that Minister Han, who enjoys broad support across various age groups, should step forward. On the same day, People Power Party lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung said on YTN radio, "(Minister Han Dong-hoon) should become the face of the party," adding, "Former leader Hwang Kyo-ahn tried but did not play a significant role, and during the 19th general election, then interim leader Park Geun-hye played a major role. This general election is Han Dong-hoon's time."

Minister Han is expected to join the election campaign committee, which will lead the People Power Party in next year's general election, by the end of this month. In particular, there is talk of him running as a proportional representative who can lead the nationwide election. On the same day, Lee Yang-su, the party's floor leader, said on SBS radio, "Minister Han Dong-hoon is a very important card for next year's general election, and since he can influence not only his own election but also others, I think he should be utilized in various ways." Former presidential office civil society chief Kang Seung-gyu, who recently declared his candidacy, also said the day before, "From the perspective of various People Power Party candidates, there is hope that Minister Han Dong-hoon would run as a nationwide candidate and support elections in various regions."