Handonghun's 'No Run in General Election' Gamble... What About Lee Jaemyung's Card?

Clearing Entrenched Interests, Even the Democratic Party Feels the Burden
"Party Leader Must Take Responsibility and Join the Race for Change"

Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, fired the starting signal for personnel reform by making a bold move not to run in the general election as his inaugural statement. With 105 days left until the general election, demands for personnel reform and leadership change are expected to grow within the Democratic Party to keep up with the innovation competition against the People Power Party.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Young-bae evaluated Han's declaration of not running in the general election in an interview with KBS 'Special 1 Radio Today' on the 27th, saying, "It seems to be a strategic judgment to show that he is willing to give up vested interests himself, but it is actually a very burdensome point from the Democratic Party's perspective."

Kim said, "If the People Power Party proceeds with the liquidation of vested interests, such as the non-candidacy of Yoon's core aides and multiple-term lawmakers from Yeongnam, it will also affect the Democratic Party," expressing concern that "cutting into the legal cartel, supporting the Kim Geon-hee special prosecutor law, taking care of people's livelihoods, and implementing proper personnel policies will make the Democratic Party quite nervous."

Handonghun, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is delivering his acceptance speech at the inauguration ceremony held at the Yeouido party headquarters on the 26th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Jeong Seong-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker considered pro-Lee Jae-myung, also said that the impact of Han's innovation work could be significant and that the party's strategy should change. In MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' Jeong said, "If the Han Dong-hoon wave arises through the ruling party's nomination innovation process, the Democratic Party should also have a corresponding level of nomination innovation," adding, "If the Han Dong-hoon wave blows after all the nominations are over, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader, should make a corresponding resolution."

Jeong said, "It is not appropriate to describe it as a change of the face at this point," but added, "If there is no wave in response to Chairman Han's leadership within the Democratic Party, Leader Lee should consider many things."

Cho Eung-cheon, a member of the non-Lee Jae-myung faction group 'Principles and Common Sense,' said on BBS Radio's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal,' "No matter what the ruling party or the media say, Lee Jae-myung only talks about 'change and maximum unity and solidarity,' and when painful questions or reporters' curiosities arise, he just remains silent," diagnosing, "He will probably be contrasted a lot with Chairman Han going forward."

Cho criticized, "The party leader should show responsibility and actively engage in the competition for change with the ruling party," adding, "The non-Lee Jae-myung faction is complaining about the nominations, but saying 'It's because of the system, don't complain, let's unite and be solid' is not enough."

Initially, Chairman Han was expected to receive a safe proportional representation slot as the general election commander or run in symbolic districts such as Jongno in Seoul. However, Han announced at the People Power Party central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, during his inauguration statement the previous afternoon, "I will not run in a constituency. I will not run as a proportional representative either," and stated, "I will courageously dedicate myself for victory, thinking only of my fellow citizens and the future of this country."