After Resolving Ruling Party Conflicts, Korea's Leadership Grows
Attention on Whether It Leads to Strategic Nominations
Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is drawing attention as to whether he will strategically nominate candidates he directly named, such as Won Hee-ryong, Kim Kyung-yul, and Yoon Hee-sook, to purge the '86 (1980s university entrants, born in the 1960s) activist faction, a core force of the Democratic Party of Korea. Jeong Young-hwan, the People Power Party’s Nomination Committee Chairman, emphasized that the party aims to avoid the controversy of 'sacheon' (secret nomination) through a systemized nomination process. However, some within the party predict that Chairman Han, who holds the nomination leadership, will support these candidates running in challenging districts to place 'winnable figures.'
Previously, Chairman Han directly mentioned three individuals in preparation for the general election. At the Gyeonggi Province Party New Year meeting held earlier this month in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, he introduced former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong as a candidate to face Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party. At the Seoul City Party New Year meeting, he also mentioned Kim Kyung-yul, an Emergency Response Committee member, as a contender against Jeong Cheong-rae, a senior member of the Democratic Party and former activist. On the 29th, he referred to former lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook, who declared her candidacy for Jung-gu and Seongdong-gap in Seoul, saying, "Between Lim Jong-seok and Yoon Hee-sook, who do you think will revive the economy?"
Han Dong-hoon and Won Hee-ryong Pledge Victory in General Election(Incheon=Yonhap News) Reporter Im Soon-seok = Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, and Won Hee-ryong, former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, raised their hands while attending the New Year's meeting of the Incheon City Party held at the Caris Hotel in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon on the 16th. 2024.1.16 [Joint Coverage]
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As Chairman Han supported specific prospective candidates, the party immediately faced controversy over 'sacheon.' Yoon Hyung-sun, the party branch chairman preparing to run in Gyeyang-eul, Incheon, criticized parachute nominations, and Kim Seong-dong, the party branch chairman of Mapo-eul, also openly expressed discomfort. In particular, the mention of Kim Kyung-yul’s possible candidacy in Mapo-eul sparked tensions between the party and President Yoon Seok-youl’s administration.
Within the party, the dominant opinion is that Chairman Han’s mention of specific prospective candidates could influence the systemized nomination process. This is because it is known that Chairman Han participates as an evaluator in the candidate screening process. During the nomination screening, Chairman Han can assess candidates’ 'party contributions.' In response, Chairman Han recently stated that his remarks about specific prospective candidates "are unrelated to the nomination. They are meant to explain the spirit of the times for this general election to the public," but also acknowledged, "It is impossible to satisfy everyone. In the process of conducting nominations and elections to win, I am prepared to endure such opinions (internal opposition)."
Former Lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook Announces Candidacy for General Election(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Han Sang-gyun = Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook is holding a press conference at the National Assembly on the 28th to announce her candidacy for the general election. 2024.1.28
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Political circles also view it as highly likely that the individuals mentioned by Chairman Han will be fully deployed in the general election through systemized nominations. This is because the party-government conflict caused by the 'sacheon controversy' has entered a reconciliation phase, further strengthening Chairman Han’s leadership within the party. Considering the recognition and significance of the individuals he mentioned, there are opinions that they are suitable opponents against Democratic Party candidates. For instance, former Minister Won has positioned himself about 100 meters from the office of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader, signaling a 'big match.' Former lawmaker Yoon is also an economic and welfare expert from the Korea Development Institute (KDI).
However, some express skepticism about Chairman Han’s so-called strategy to purge the 86 generation. Former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Choi Jae-sung criticized on KBS Radio on the 31st, saying, "(The 86 generation purge strategy) is not a strategic issue that can be applied comprehensively in a major election like the general election," and added, "It gives an artificial impression of 'someone in Lim Jong-seok’s district, someone in Jeong Cheong-rae’s district.' It seems like they are trying to fight the general election with very small issues."
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