As the People Power Party transitioned to a provisional leadership system following the resignation of Representative Kim Ki-hyun, the party is engaged in heated debates over whether to appoint Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon as the provisional leader. Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook advised that, for the sake of centrist expansion, it would be better for Han to maintain some distance from President Yoon Suk-yeol, saying, "(Minister Han) will have to consider how to establish a beautiful confrontation."
On the 19th, former lawmaker Yoon said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "What this person needs to do as the provisional leader now is to expand toward the center. (However) to expand toward the center, he must establish a confrontational stance with the president," she said.
She emphasized that centrist expansion is necessary for winning the general election, and for that, frank advice to the president is required. She said, "The very important role now is whether he can speak his mind while reading the public's sentiment and lead the president in that direction. Minister Han is a very intelligent person, so he must be aware that he needs to play this role now. If he doesn't do that, I will fail, the party will fail, and the president will fail?there's no way he doesn't know that," she said.
At the same time, she stressed the point that "the president's dignity should not be excessively undermined." Former lawmaker Yoon said, "The dilemma for him is that he is very popular, but his support base overlaps with the president's," adding, "If he confronts the president too harshly and damages the president's image, those in the president's support base might say, 'How could Minister Han do such a thing?' That would not be good for the party either," she said.
Former lawmaker Yoon said, "When President Roh Tae-woo sent President Chun Doo-hwan to Baekdamsa Temple, it was at the end of his administration. But now, the president has many tasks to accomplish over the next three years. It is better not to damage the president's image too much," adding, "At the same time, Minister Han must appear very innovative and able to read the public's sentiment to lead the president accordingly, so his head must be about to explode right now," she said.
She pointed out that a consensus within the party regarding the role of the provisional leader must be formed during this process. Former lawmaker Yoon said, "There must be a clear consensus in the party meetings, joint meetings, and future decision-making processes about what role the provisional leader should play," adding, "There should be a party stance that clearly communicates to Minister Han that he must accurately convey public sentiment and play a role that closely communicates with the people," she said.
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