Growing Han Dong-hoon Fandom... Concerns Raised Over Overheating Phenomenon

Supporters Voluntarily Encourage Joining Fan Cafes
Power Struggle Between Existing Supporters on Kukhim Party Member Board
Complex Emotions Shown Over President Yoon Seok-yeol's Support

"We are eagerly waiting." This is the most common phrase seen in the fan club 'WithHooni' since former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Han Dong-hoon resigned on the 11th of last month, taking responsibility for the crushing defeat in the general election. Supporters of former Chairman Han are difficult to define in a single word. First, they express regret and sorrow as if Han bore the responsibility for the election loss alone. They also add expectations that he will return soon, take control of the party leadership, and challenge for the presidency. At the same time, there is anxiety that a quick return could lead to the depletion of his political capital.

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@

According to portals like Naver, as of the 30th of last month, the fan club WithHooni had 36,495 members. On the 19th of last month, the membership was around 26,156, so in less than two weeks, the number increased by more than 10,000. After former Chairman Han stepped down from the emergency committee chairmanship on the 11th, supporters flocked to the fan club. The fan club manager set daily membership goals, and supporters voluntarily promoted the fan club on Naver news sections and YouTube, which also contributed to the increase in membership.

The supporters gathered in WithHooni are hard to consider as a typical fandom. They are a so-called 'political force' aiming to contribute to Han's political activities. One of their main focuses is joining the People Power Party as members. This is because only responsible party members who pay dues for more than three months in a year have the right to elect party leaders and presidential candidates. In fact, since the party membership verification board opened on the 15th of last month, about 350 membership verifications and related posts have been made. In March, only 12 posts were made on that board.

WithHooni fan club membership increased by 10,000 in less than two weeks... Displaying power by sending wreaths

On the 15th, supporters of Han Dong-hoon, former Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, sent wreaths near the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, surrounding the wall.
Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@

There was also a movement to display their strength. On the 15th, WithHooni members and supporters of former Chairman Han gathered near the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, and displayed wreaths. It was reported that more than 250 wreaths surrounded the National Assembly area. Supporters present at the scene hinted that if the space had been larger, even more wreaths could have been placed. Moreover, on the 1st, supporters in the Busan area held an offline meeting, and on the 3rd, supporters from the southern Gyeonggi region gathered. In the southern Gyeonggi region, the area was divided into 10 districts, and leaders were recruited for each district.

The reason they support former Chairman Han is 'fairness.' Kim Jin-il (32, male) began supporting Han because of his actions during his tenure as Minister of Justice. Through his responses to questions from Democratic Party lawmakers, Kim believed Han could lead the nation well. Kim said, "Han realized judicial justice during his time as a prosecutor and as Minister of Justice," adding, "Seeing this, I also expect him to realize political justice."

When a new force rises, conflict is inevitable. As former Chairman Han's supporters become more active, the power struggle with existing People Power Party supporters intensifies. The battleground is the party members' bulletin board. When criticisms such as "the person responsible for the general election defeat" or "Gangnam leftist" are directed at Han, supporters request 'cleansing operations' in WithHooni. They rush to the party bulletin board to post rebuttals to critical posts or to post praises of Han to push out negative content. They respond in comments with phrases like "Conservatism is divided because of people like you" and "Only former Chairman Han is the alternative." Sometimes, they post messages like "Han will eventually succeed."

Concerns over the overheated fandom phenomenon... "I left the fan club"

A person who was removed from the fan cafe 'WithHooni' of former People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon is expressing regret in another cafe. /Source=Naver

Many of former Chairman Han's supporters focus on President Yoon, not Han, as responsible for the election defeat. The peak of criticism against President Yoon came when it was revealed that Han refused a luncheon meeting at the presidential office. They supported Han's actions with the logic that "it is natural to feel slighted if invited later than Mayor Hong Joon-pyo of Daegu." When People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Young-se said on the 23rd of last month that Han's refusal was a mistake, supporters countered, "Internal division was first started by the Yongsan presidential office and Mayor Hong."

However, opinions on support for President Yoon are divided. Ju Mo (66, male) previously supported President Yoon but has since withdrawn his support. Ju said, "The thoughts of a political leader are important, but the organization is also crucial," adding, "The aides in the presidential office continue to make wrong judgments and mistakes." He explained, "I agree with the direction President Yoon wants to take the government, but looking at the aides, I feel sorry." Still, some argue that President Yoon was created by the conservative camp. Kim said, "I do not see President Yoon and former Chairman Han as being in conflict," and "Since Han is a figure who will run for the next presidency, I think they have a cooperative relationship, meaning they will support each other."

There are also voices expressing concern about the fandom phenomenon surrounding former Chairman Han. Some point out that it already resembles the 'Gaeddal' (hardcore supporters of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party). Other members of Han's fan club complained that they were expelled from WithHooni for criticizing Han.

Ju also joined WithHooni after the general election but soon left. Ju said, "There must be various opinions on how and what to support Han, but the environment was such that active supporters dominated, and other opinions could not emerge," adding, "I left the fan club because I thought it could end up looking like Gaeddal."