Handonghun "Blatant Intent to Prevent Representation"
Won Heeryong "Ignoring Messages and Election Defeat"
Nakyungwon "Lame Excuse"... Yunsanghyun "Must Apologize"
On the 6th, the People Power Party's leadership candidates clashed for the second day over Han Dong-hoon, the party representative candidate, and the controversy surrounding his alleged 'ignoring of Kim Geon-hee's texts.'
People Power Party representatives Yoon Sang-hyun (from left), Na Kyung-won, Won Hee-ryong, and Han Dong-hoon, candidates for party leader, are seen conversing before delivering their policy presentations at the 'Change 5-Minute Vision Presentation' held on the 2nd at ASSA Art Hall in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group
Han denied the allegations that he received texts from Kim Geon-hee during the general election period expressing her intention to issue a 'public apology' regarding the luxury handbag controversy but did not respond. He argued that the (reported) content of the texts was not true and claimed that raising the suspicion itself was an 'interference in the party convention.'
Han appeared on SBS's "Political Consulting Stove League" that day and said, "Those raising this issue at this time should exercise restraint," adding, "It is a dangerous act that could be seen as abnormal interference in the party convention or party affairs." He continued, "Six months have passed since the texts, and the emergence of this content is a blatant attempt to prevent me from becoming the representative," and asserted, "Much of the text content is not true."
Regarding the claim that he did not respond to Kim Geon-hee's texts, which ultimately led to her not issuing an apology, Han said at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, "I was asked to resign as the emergency committee chairman (by the presidential office) due to demands for an apology," and questioned, "Haven't I sufficiently conveyed my position that an apology was necessary?" He added, "Including candidate Won, no one at the time said that Kim Geon-hee's apology was necessary. The presidential office strongly opposed the opinion that an apology was needed," and pointed out, "If responsibility for (Kim Geon-hee's failure to apologize) is unfairly placed on me, who publicly said an apology was necessary, would people agree?"
On the other hand, competing candidates Won Hee-ryong and Na Kyung-won sharpened their criticism, linking Han's responsibility for the general election defeat to his ignoring of Kim Geon-hee's texts. Candidate Won criticized, "Regarding the first lady's handbag issue, which was a sensitive negative factor in the general election, Han neither discussed it with the presidential office or within the party nor responded, but just ignored it," and asked, "How much burden did this cause to the candidates, the defeated, supporters, and the president due to the election defeat?"
Won also responded to Han's claim that Kim Geon-hee's text did not imply an intention to apologize by saying, "You keep dragging this into an issue of interpretation, but where in Kim Geon-hee's text saying 'I will comply with the disposition' is there any indication that she does not intend to apologize?" He added, "Kim Geon-hee's text was a request to coordinate well and to lead, not a request for permission to apologize," and criticized, "This should have been deliberated from the perspective of election strategy and party-government consultation. Han needs to relearn politics from the basics."
Candidate Na said, "Han seems to be making pitiful excuses continuously," and criticized, "It is clearly Han's fault and effectively the act in question." At the town hall meeting of the Out-of-Parliament Party Committee Chairpersons' Association, Na said, "Whether private or public, politics is about forming opinions together," and added, "It could have created a conclusion that the public wanted and sufficiently helped the election, so I deeply regret the immature judgment."
Additionally, candidate Yoon Sang-hyun said, "The controversy over Kim Geon-hee's luxury handbag was the biggest issue and should have been resolved," and pointed out, "If the first lady, the party involved, sent a text, it was natural to respond. It is not about separating private and public relationships but about listening to the party involved and putting heads together." He added, "Han should apologize, and Won should exercise some restraint," and said, "The struggle between current power and future power has a high chance of dividing the party. Whichever candidate becomes the representative, there will be aftereffects."
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