Intense Focus on Korea at Ruling Party's 4th Speech Rally... Clashes Among Supporters Also Occur

Na "Electing a 1-Year Party Leader?"
Won Launches Intense Attack Over Comment Team Allegations
Yoon "A Party That Can't Produce a General Election White Paper"
"Traitor"·"Resign" Clash

In the final phase of the 7·23 People Power Party (PPP) leadership election joint speech event, candidates Na Kyung-won and Won Hee-ryong, who are running against the frontrunner Han Dong-hoon, launched attacks not only on Han's stance regarding the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecutor law but also on allegations of managing a comment team and his potential presidential bid. Notably, during this speech event, some attendees shouted "traitor" at Han, causing a disturbance and clashes with Han's supporters.

Na Kyung-won, Won Hee-ryong, Han Dong-hoon, and Yoon Sang-hyun, four candidates for the People Power Party leadership, are taking a commemorative photo on the 11th at the MBN studio in Jung-gu, Seoul, before the second broadcast debate for party leader candidates. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

At the joint speech event for the Daejeon, Sejong, North Chungcheong, and South Chungcheong regions held at the Yu Gwan-sun Gymnasium in Cheonan, Chungnam, candidate Na criticized Han, who recently hinted at a possible presidential run, saying, "Over the past two years, we have had eight acting party leaders and emergency committee chairs. If we elect a one-year party leader this time, there will be another emergency committee and leadership election in a year."

The term for the PPP party leader is two years, but according to the party's constitution, if a candidate runs for president, they must resign from party positions 18 months prior. Na has criticized Han's potential presidential ambitions because of this. In response, after a meeting with the Pohang Buk-gu party association on the 12th, Han told reporters, "The more presidential candidates who can win, the stronger our party becomes," and retorted to Na, "I suggest you dream bigger."

Na also criticized Han regarding rumors of conflict with President Yoon. She said, "People who cause division by clashing with the president due to presidential ambitions?have you heard of state affairs manipulation or party interference? These are the words used to accuse former President Park Geun-hye," adding, "But this candidate uses those words freely, giving the Democratic Party and Lee Jae-myung's party an excuse. Isn't that really dangerous and unsettling for you all?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Na also targeted candidate Won, who is considered a potential unification candidate, saying, "The suddenly emerged candidate is the same. Would a suddenly emerged candidate dare to speak to the president? I, Na Kyung-won, will do it. I will fully support President Yoon where he does well and give harsh criticism where he errs to ensure the success and protection of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration."

Won, meanwhile, launched a relentless offensive by repeatedly mentioning the third-party Chae Sang-byeong special prosecutor law proposed by Han, as well as recent allegations regarding the operation of a comment team and the suspected manipulation of proportional representation candidate selection. Won said, "If the party leader and the president share the same political goals, a special prosecutor targeting the president should never be accepted," and questioned, "If their political goals align, why would they support a special prosecutor opposed unanimously by the vast majority of our party's lawmakers and the president?"

He continued, "There have been revelations and reports that during Han's tenure as Minister of Justice, there was a public opinion formation team and even a comment team to create favorable public sentiment," adding, "If such teams actually existed, it is a serious criminal act. The opposition party is also calling for the immediate addition of this issue to the Han Dong-hoon special prosecutor law and for a special investigation." He also targeted the proportional representation candidate manipulation allegations, saying, "We will definitely implement bottom-up candidate selection. We will completely eliminate secretive candidate selection and unknown candidates."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Candidate Yoon, rather than directly attacking Han, expressed his ambition to reform the lethargic internal party situation and indirectly criticized Han for failing to publish a white paper on the recent general election, which Han oversaw as emergency committee chair. Yoon said, "At this moment, we are moving forward like peace in a graveyard without any change or reflection," and criticized, "It has already been three months since the general election ended, yet this party cannot produce even a single election white paper. How can this party have a future?"

On the other hand, Han apologized during his speech for the Yoon administration's research and development (R&D) budget adjustments. Han said, "The budget cuts related to R&D were rough and not precise," and pledged, "We reflect on this. We will take care of your concerns, Chungcheong people." However, regarding allegations that he operated a public opinion formation team during his time as Minister of Justice, Han told reporters after the speech event, "I have never paid for or operated such a team," and questioned, "Is it wrong that supporters voluntarily posted comments?"

Regarding the Democratic Party's call for a forced investigation into this matter, Han said, "I find it hard to understand the disparagement of supporters voluntarily expressing their support in such a way. To disparage the expression of support through legal means as if it were a crime?is that the attitude of a politician?" and added sharply, "They must think we are like them."

Yoon Sang-hyun, a candidate for the leader of the People Power Party, is attending the 2nd party leader candidate broadcast debate held at the MBN studio in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 11th. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Han, Amid Clashes Among Supporters... "They Can Call Me a Traitor, Just No Violence"

During the joint speech event, clashes also occurred between supporters of Han and those of other candidates. Earlier, when Emergency Committee Chair Hwang Woo-yeo and Election Management Committee Chair Seo Byung-soo expressed concerns about the overheated competition among supporters and unverified opinion polls, Han's supporters shouted for their resignation. Additionally, as Han's speech began, some attendees shouted, "Traitor, get lost," leading to clashes with Han's supporters.

Han told party officials trying to stop those shouting "traitor," "Just let them be. It's okay if they shout." However, as the clashes intensified, Han unplugged the fixed microphone and stepped forward on stage, saying, "Let's calm down. This is not the level our politics should show. Isn't the politics of the People Power Party above this?" He continued, "It's fine if you call me a traitor, but please do not disregard others' opinions. Please do not assault others," mediating the situation.

He emphasized, "The way for us to win is to find the right answer amid these differences and resolve it democratically," and added, "Through this leadership election, we must take that path."

[Image source=Yonhap News]