Criticism and Warnings Continue Even from People Power Party Lawmakers
Critical Posts on Facebook by Na Kyung-won and Won Hee-ryong, Candidates for Party Leader
Han Dong-hoon, the People Power Party's candidate for party leader, has come under intense criticism both inside and outside the party following a series of gaffes, this time for remarks referencing President Yoon Seok-yeol. After Na Kyung-won, a fellow candidate, revealed that she had asked Han, then Minister of Justice, to drop the prosecution in the fast-track case, Han apologized the next day, admitting he had been "not cautious enough." However, during a TV debate, Han sparked controversy again by stating, "The prosecutor general who filed that indictment back then is President (Yoon Seok-yeol)," reigniting the backlash.
On the 19th, during a KBS broadcast debate, when Na asked, "Do you think the indictment in the 'fast-track case' was appropriate?" Han responded, "I apologized for being not cautious enough, and the prosecutor general who filed that indictment was the president. It was prosecuted according to the law." Following this, criticism poured in from other candidates as well as from within and outside the party.
Immediately after the debate, Na posted on Facebook criticizing Han's apology as lacking sincerity and truthfulness. She said, "It is an arbitrary attitude of 'I am always right,'" adding, "Han's perception of the fast-track struggle is no different from that of the Democratic Party or the Justice Innovation Party." She continued, "He dismissed it as a 'simple crime' and portrayed me, who appealed for the withdrawal of an unfair indictment, as someone making a 'personal favor' request," calling him a "time bomb with his mouth" and strongly criticizing, "If Han becomes party leader, the party will be ruined."
She also pointed out his reckless mention of President Yoon, stating, "He continuously exposed his own 'mouth risk.' He claims credit for everything he did well alone, but always blames President Yoon Seok-yeol and the party for everything wrong." She added, "When he is cornered or disadvantaged, whether impulsively or deliberately, he will bring up private conversations or confidential work matters to escape the situation. If Han becomes party leader, our party will inevitably be engulfed in division, conflict, and internal strife."
Candidate Won Hee-ryong also criticized Han's remarks. In a Facebook post titled 'Hell Mouse,' he claimed Han's apology was a 'fake apology.' He criticized Han's response that "the prosecutor general at the time was President Yoon Seok-yeol," saying it "pierced the hearts of fellow lawmakers, party officials, and party members." He emphasized, "Han is unqualified not only as party leader but also as a party member."
Kim Jae-won, a candidate for the People Power Party's Supreme Council, said on YTN radio's 'News Fighting with Bae Seung-hee', "I wonder if Han, who is trying to become party leader as a member of our party, has a sense of camaraderie," adding, "I want to ask Han whether the Corruption Investigation Office law passed through the fast-track process has functioned properly and whether it was appropriate."
Assemblyman Kwon Seong-dong also criticized Han's attitude as hypocritical. On Facebook, he wrote, "While encouraging the fast-track defense team, he ignores the essence of the case," and "He acknowledges the hard work of party secretariat staff and aides but treats the unfair trial as if it were someone else's problem." He warned, "Should we really dig into the pain of each party member and the entire party in an internal election? Should we use those who are still sacrificing for the party as tools for internal strife? I hope that even in competition, the line will be respected."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
