Presidential Office: "Not Our Place to Intervene in Han Dong-hoon's Position Issue"

"Withdrawal of Trust" Controversy: "Yoon's Strong Philosophy Expression Regarding System Nomination"

On the 21st, the Presidential Office virtually denied reports that senior officials from the Presidential Office and the ruling party demanded the resignation of Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, stating, "The issue of Chairman Han's position is not something Yongsan is involved in."

A Presidential Office official responded this way to Asia Economy's question on whether the Presidential Office had requested Chairman Han's resignation.

One media outlet reported that mainstream figures within the ruling party recently demanded Chairman Han's resignation amid nomination controversies. The report also included an interpretation from the ruling party suggesting that President Yoon had withdrawn his expectations and support for Chairman Han regarding this matter.

The official explained, "Regarding the so-called controversy over the withdrawal of expectations and trust in Chairman Han, it reflects President Yoon Seok-yeol's strong philosophy on fair and transparent system-based nominations."

Chairman Han stated through a text message to the People Power Party media in the afternoon, responding to such reports, "I will continue on the path I have revealed to the people and do my duty." The People Power Party described this as "Han Dong-hoon Emergency Response Committee Chairman's position on today's reports about the Presidential Office's resignation demand."

Earlier, on the 17th, Chairman Han announced that Kim Kyung-yul, a People Power Party Emergency Response Committee member, would run for the Mapo-eul district in Seoul, which sparked controversy over the so-called 'Yoon's heart (Yunsim) nomination.'

Meanwhile, this media outlet and others also reported that Lee Kwan-seop, Chief of Staff to the President, expressed displeasure to Chairman Han regarding the response to the controversy over First Lady Kim's luxury handbag.