"Thank You" VS "Need Reform"... Divergent Views in the Democratic Party on 'Han Dong-hoon's Appearance'

Hong Ik-pyo "Speak Frankly"... Urges 'Acceptance of Special Prosecutor'
Concerns Arise Over Lee's Judicial Risk Highlighted

As former Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon emerged as the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, the Democratic Party of Korea appears cautious, concerned that this could serve as a rallying point for conservative voters. While outwardly attacking him as a 'Yoon Seok-yeol avatar,' there are also voices worried that the judicial risks surrounding Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, who is currently a defendant, may be highlighted.

Hong Ik-pyo, the Democratic Party floor leader, offered words of encouragement at the Supreme Council meeting on the 22nd, saying, "I hope Han Dong-hoon shows competence and ability as a politician, not as a prosecutor."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Hong emphasized, "Please boldly speak out against President Yoon Seok-yeol," adding, "Undergoing dual special investigations as well as a national audit is innovation, and it is what Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon should do."

On the same day, Representative Kim Young-jin criticized on YTN radio, saying, "It is completely against common sense for the president, who is a former prosecutor general, and the Minister of Justice, Han Dong-hoon, also from the prosecution, to become the Emergency Response Committee Chairman," and directly questioned, "Does President Yoon perhaps want Jang Se-dong, a former head of the Agency for National Security Planning under Chun Doo-hwan?"

Kim's remarks are interpreted as criticism that Chairman Han will focus on carrying out President Yoon's orders. He also claimed, "Isn't this essentially a loyalist coup-like appointment of the Emergency Response Committee Chairman?" Currently, within the ruling party, there is a strong demand to change the vertical party-government relationship, influenced by close presidential aides often referred to as 'Yoon-sim,' into a more horizontal relationship.

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

A senior Democratic Party lawmaker from the Seoul metropolitan area said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the same day, "Next year's general election centers on 'judging the administration,' but Han Dong-hoon's Emergency Response Committee is likely to solidify the 'prosecutorial dictatorship' frame even more," adding, "From the Democratic Party's perspective, this is a welcome development." He also pointed out, "Not only is the president a former prosecutor with no political experience, but filling the ruling party leader position with another former prosecutor shows that the People Power Party has reached its limit."

Furthermore, the Democratic Party is exploiting the 'administrative vacuum' caused by former Minister Han's acceptance of the Emergency Response Committee Chairman position. On the previous day, spokesman Han Min-soo criticized in a statement, "Usually, the president first nominates a successor, who is then appointed after a parliamentary confirmation hearing, and only then does the incumbent resign," adding, "Former Minister Han is ignoring all these procedures and resigning, so does that mean he does not care about the administrative vacuum in the Ministry of Justice?"

"This is not the time for 'Hanna-ttaeng'"...Concerns over Lee's Judicial Risks Highlighted

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the continuation of the first trial for violation of the Public Official Election Act held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 8th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

However, some within the party express concerns about the impact of 'Han Dong-hoon's rise.' Above all, with comprehensive prosecution investigations underway against Lee Jae-myung regarding the Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong development project corruption allegations and the misuse of Gyeonggi Province corporate credit cards, there is a pointed observation that the dynamic of 'prosecutor versus defendant' could become more pronounced. There is worry that if Lee's judicial risks materialize ahead of next year's general election, it will inevitably negatively affect voter sentiment. Particularly burdensome for the Democratic Party is the fact that former Minister Han, as Minister of Justice, was the figure who directly advocated for Lee's detention.

Representative Jung Sung-ho cautioned against the party's internal atmosphere of belittling former Minister Han and called for self-reflection. On the morning of the same day, he posted on his SNS, "I am very concerned to see some people in our party downplaying Han Dong-hoon's emergence and saying 'Hanna-ttaeng (Thank you if Han Dong-hoon comes out),' which reflects a one-dimensional mindset," adding, "Chairman Han has the ability to change the ruling party with cool-headed judgment and strong execution." He continued, "If the Democratic Party naively waits for Chairman Han's mistakes and becomes complacent, it will surely be defeated," emphasizing, "We must stay alert and innovate."

There are also signs of tightening vigilance over the impact of personnel reshuffling moves within the ruling party spreading to the Democratic Party. A party leadership official evaluated, "The influence Han Dong-hoon holds is sufficient to newly rally conservative supporters," adding, "The People Power Party's transition to an Emergency Response Committee system could be an opportunity for the Democratic Party, but conversely, it could also intensify demands for reform within the Democratic Party." Currently, within the Democratic Party, voices are emerging, mainly from the non-mainstream faction such as the reformist group 'Principles and Common Sense,' calling for a transition to a 'unified Emergency Response Committee' based on Lee Jae-myung's resignation.