Handonghun to Visit Former President Park Geun-hye Next Week... Moves to Rally Conservative Base

Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, will visit former President Park Geun-hye next week. This is interpreted as an effort to rally the conservative base with less than three weeks remaining until the general election.

Handonghun, the General Election Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the 22nd National Assembly Election Central Election Committee and the candidate nomination meeting held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 19th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the 21st, the People Power Party announced, "Chairman Han will visit former President Park at her residence in Daegu next week," adding, "The specific schedule will be disclosed later."

This is the first time Chairman Han, who took office as Emergency Response Committee Chairman last December, will visit former President Park. While serving as a prosecutor, Han conducted the state affairs manipulation investigation alongside President Yoon Seok-youl. On the 2nd of last month, Han sent a congratulatory orchid to former President Park, who celebrated her birthday, through People Power Party lawmaker Kim Hyung-dong. The congratulatory orchid was received on behalf of Park by her close aide, lawyer Yoo Young-ha. At that time, Chairman Han said, "I want to receive much guidance from senior figures in our society, including former President Park."

Chairman Han's visit to former President Park is interpreted as an attempt to consolidate the conservative base. The People Power Party canceled the nomination of lawyer Do Tae-woo, who was nominated for Daegu Jung and Nam districts, after he became embroiled in controversy over belittling the May 18 Democratic Uprising. Do had served as a defense attorney in former President Park's impeachment case. Hwang Bo-seung-hee, floor leader of the Liberty Unification Party, where Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church serves as an advisor, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the 19th, urging Chairman Han to resign, saying, "The People Power Party has abandoned the consolidation of conservative forces."