The Democratic Party debates 'Han Dong-hoon responsibility theory for general election defeat'... "Overconfidence in ability" vs "Presidential Office responsibility"

Former Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, Han Dong-hoon, directly stated amidst ongoing debates over responsibility for the party's crushing defeat in the general election that he will "take time and return to politics."

On the evening of the 20th, former Chairman Han posted on his social media platform Facebook, "I believe that when sophisticated and dynamic leadership meets the understanding and support of the people, we can overcome difficulties," adding, "I will take time to study and reflect to become more refined."

He also said, "No matter what happens, I will never betray you, the people," and added, "The only ones politicians must not betray are you, the people. Efforts to correct mistakes are not betrayal but courage."

In political circles, former Chairman Han’s remarks were interpreted as targeting Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, who has raised questions of responsibility following the People Power Party’s general election defeat.

Earlier, Mayor Hong had pointed to former Chairman Han’s responsibility after the election loss. On the same day, through a response on the online communication platform 'Youth’s Dream,' he criticized, "We suffered a historic defeat because of Han Dong-hoon’s mistakes. He treated the general election as a preliminary battle for the presidential race," adding, "Despite such a harsh defeat, blindly following him is a reckless and shameless act that led to the downfall of the conservative right."

Lawyer Shin Pyung criticized on the 21st via SNS, saying, "If we summarize the biggest cause of the People Power Party’s general election defeat, it is Han Dong-hoon’s overconfidence in his own abilities," calling it "a common mistake made by people who have lived life without setbacks." On the other hand, former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-woo defended Han on the same day, saying, "There are people throwing stones at former Chairman Han now," adding, "Some senior party politicians say he is a crown prince or a deposed prince and tell him not to show up in the party. This is not the Joseon Dynasty. This is really unacceptable."

Handonghun, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is taking out a statement at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 11th to express his position on the general election defeat. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

Limitations of Individual Skills vs. Presidential Public Briefing

Within the party, debates over responsibility for the general election defeat continue. On the 9th, Lee Hye-hoon, the organizational committee chair for Jungseong-dong, Seoul, pointed out at a gathering of about 100 People Power Party candidates who lost, "Wasn’t this an election where the angry public sentiment inevitably swept away all individual skills and efforts of each candidate like a tsunami?"

There were also calls for responsibility in Yongsan. Kim Jun-ho, the organizational committee chair for Nowon, Seoul, said, "Since the incidents involving Chief Hwang and Ambassador Lee Jong-seop, no one can ever vote for you. No matter how hard the small fish swim, if the whale’s tail moves wrongly, everyone dies."

There are opinions that instead of a practical emergency committee preparing for the party convention, an innovative emergency committee should be formed to improve the party’s structure. Oh Shin-hwan, the organizational committee chair for Gwangjin-eul, Seoul, said, "Will we remain as the regional party of the Yeongnam area and carry this crisis forward, or will the party plan its future with changes and innovations at a reasonable level? It is difficult."