Handonghun Visits Gwangju... Pays Tribute at 5·18 Democratic Cemetery

First Time Attending After Appointment as Emergency Committee Chairman
Attended Chungbuk Provincial Party New Year's Meeting in the Afternoon

Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, visited Gwangju Metropolitan City on the 4th to expand the party's reach into Honam. This is Han's first visit to Gwangju since his appointment as committee chairman.

On the morning of the same day, Chairman Han paid respects at the Gwangju Student Independence Movement Memorial Tower located in Numun-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, and wrote in the guestbook, "In 2024, we remember the spirit of Gwangju in 1929." After the tribute, he visited the history hall to receive explanations related to the Gwangju Student Independence Movement.

Han then visited the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery, paid respects at the People's Uprising Memorial Tower, and attended the People Power Party Gwangju City Party's New Year's gathering held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Seo-gu, Gwangju. Attention is focused on whether he will deliver a message of unity to embrace Honam in Gwangju, a stronghold of conservatism.

The ruling party has so far focused on winning over Honam public sentiment by officially visiting the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery. Earlier, President Yoon Seok-yeol, during his candidacy, paid respects at the May 18th Democratic Cemetery and promised to include the spirit of May 18th in the preamble of the constitution. Innovation Committee Chairman In Yo-han also visited the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery as his first official schedule after taking office, delivering a message of unity that the Gwangju democratization movement is a great achievement in the development of democracy.

People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon is moving to pay respects at the Gwangju Student Independence Movement Memorial Tower in Numun-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju on the morning of the 4th. 2024.1.4
daum@yna.co.kr
(End) [Image source=Yonhap News]

In the afternoon, Han is scheduled to attend the Chungbuk Provincial Party's New Year's gathering held in Cheongju, Chungbuk. Han has a connection to this place, having enrolled at Unho Elementary School in Cheongju and attended until the 4th grade before transferring to Seoul. Starting from Daegu on the 2nd, Han plans to attend New Year's events of city and provincial parties in Daejeon, Gwangju, Cheongju, followed by Suwon, Chuncheon, and others.

Meanwhile, Han's visit to Gwangju has heightened tensions over threats to his personal safety. On the 2nd, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was attacked by a man in his 60s during a field schedule in Busan. The day before, a man in his 40s who posted a threatening message saying "If Chairman Han comes to Gwangju, he will not be left alone" was urgently arrested by the police.

Especially since this is Han's first external activity after Lee's attack, security interest has increased. When Han arrived at Songjeong Station in Gwangju that day, police security personnel were deployed in front and behind him. The People Power Party decided to strengthen its own safety measures in preparation for any emergencies during the Gwangju schedule, and did not separately request the deployment of police riot squads. However, the Chungbuk Police Agency is known to have increased personnel for personal protection.