Handonghun "Lee Jongsup Has Returned... The Corruption Investigation Office and Democratic Party Must Respond"

Han, Yoon Jae-ok Attends Floor Leader Election Office Opening Ceremony
Yoon Jae-ok Appeals, "We Must Let the President Work"

Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and General Election Countermeasures Committee Chairman, stated on the 21st, "Ambassador Lee Jong-seop (to Australia) has returned to Korea. Now, the answer lies with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and the Democratic Party, not the government or the People Power Party."

At the opening ceremony of Yoon Jae-ok's floor leader election office held in Daegu that day, Chairman Han said about Ambassador Lee's return, "It is the People Power Party's intention to sensitively accept public sentiment and somehow follow the will of the people (by his return)."

On the 21st, Han Dong-hoon, the General Election Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, visited the election office opening ceremony of Yoon Jae-ok, the candidate for Dalseo-gu Eul, Daegu, and greeted together with Yoon Jae-ok, the Co-Chairman of the Joint Election Countermeasures Committee. 2024.3.21 [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Chairman Han had demanded the immediate return of Ambassador Lee, who is under investigation by the CIO over allegations of external pressure in the investigation of a Marine Corps member's death. Ambassador Lee returned that morning.

In response, Chairman Han emphasized, "We risked diplomatic impropriety to bring the ambassador back," adding, "If there really was a problem, it should be investigated quickly and concluded." He continued, "If they are not yet ready to investigate (Ambassador Lee), this is political maneuvering by the CIO and the Democratic Party ahead of the general election," criticizing the CIO by saying, "I have never seen an investigative agency engage in such noisy media play and issue direct statements before such an important election."

Chairman Han also launched an offensive. He criticized the Democratic Party for nominating lawyer Jo Su-jin, who has been embroiled in controversy over defending a sex offender, calling it "an example of rejecting public sentiment." Han said, "A lawyer can defend a sex crime perpetrator," but pointed out, "There is no common sense in defending a case as if 'the father might have done it' when an elementary school student was raped."

He added, "Looking at the subsequent situation, these were actions that defended the perpetrator and inflicted secondary harm on the victim. Such actions are tolerated in that party (the Democratic Party). We cannot tolerate them." He further criticized Jo by saying, "Representative Lee Jae-myung defended a case where his nephew's partner's family was killed, calling it 'dating violence,' and Jo is a 'look-alike' in that regard."

On the 21st, Han Dong-hoon, the General Election Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, visited the election office opening ceremony of Yoon Jae-ok, the candidate for Dalseo-gu Eul, Daegu, and raised his hand together with Yoon Jae-ok, the co-chairman of the joint election countermeasures committee, to greet.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Floor Leader Yoon, who is also co-chairman of the election countermeasures committee, appealed for support that day, saying, "We must help the president to work."

Yoon said, "Since becoming floor leader, I have exercised the right to request reconsideration, commonly known as the veto, nine times during my term. Eight of the bills vetoed nine times were re-voted on," adding, "Being a floor leader is a nerve-wracking job."

He also said, "If more than a certain number of lawmakers defect or a bill passes in a re-vote, it severely hampers the administration's governance and causes major setbacks. I have experienced such critical moments eight times. Still, I have been evaluated as having skillfully managed the situation by gathering the ruling party lawmakers' support during each re-vote." He added, "There was an assessment that Yoon Jae-ok had some clever tactics, but clever tactics might work once or twice; you cannot always win at baduk with tricks. You have to go with straightforward methods," and said, "You must ensure that the 22nd National Assembly floor leader does not face such dilemmas."

Yoon continued, "The National Assembly, which should focus on people's livelihoods, is always embroiled in political strife, and due to the opposition leader's judicial risks, it has to conduct a shielded National Assembly, which constantly displeases the public. This must truly end," emphasizing, "We must prevent criminal elements and anti-Republic of Korea forces from entering the National Assembly through rigged election systems like yabawi (shell game)."