'Prosecution Withdrawal Request Expos?' Clash... Korea "Personal Level" vs "Former National Assembly Level" (Comprehensive)

Last Broadcast Debate Before the Party Convention
Han Dong-hoon "Na, Distorted the Situation at the Time"
Na Kyung-won "Speak Properly" Shouts Angrily

At the final party leader candidate debate before the July 23 People Power Party (PPP) leadership election, candidates Han Dong-hoon and Na Kyung-won clashed again over the revelation of a request to cancel the fast-track prosecution. Han countered Na's related attack by saying, "Na's request was on a personal level," and a heated exchange ensued as Na confronted Han.

On the 19th, during the 6th PPP party leader candidate broadcast debate hosted by SBS, Na repeatedly attacked Han by referring to Jeong Cheong-rae, chairman of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, who mentioned criminal charges against PPP lawmakers just before the impeachment petition hearing for President Yoon Seok-yeol was held that day, asking, "If the lawmakers' actions today are prosecuted, will you request the cancellation of the prosecution?" This question came after Han explained that, as Minister of Justice, he could not intervene in the cancellation of prosecution.

Handonghun (from the left), Nakyeongwon, Yunsanghyun, and Won Heeryong, candidates for the People Power Party leadership, raise their hands to greet at the 4th Party Convention and the joint speech meeting for Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon held on the 17th at Goyang Sono Arena in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Han Dong-hoon: "Na's request was personal"... Na Kyung-won: "Speak properly" and snaps back

Han responded, "As party leader, I naturally actively support the (fast-track) struggle. As a politician, I think the party can make such a request. However, Na was not even a party official at the time and personally asked me for this," rebutting Na's claim. When Na retorted, "Was that a personal request?" Han answered, "Yes."

Na pressed again, "I represent 27 members... Did I ask to exclude only myself?" When Han again replied "Yes," Na raised her voice, "Candidate Han, speak properly. You say it was a personal request?" Han briefly answered "Yes" once more. Na questioned, "Yes?" and then asked, "Can you insult me like this?" She added, "Is this my personal wrongdoing? I spoke on behalf of 27 lawmakers and their aides as a former floor leader," emphasizing, "If someone who can only think of this as a personal request becomes party leader, I seriously doubt whether they will truly demand the cancellation of prosecution for the lawmakers."

Han countered, "The public is watching," and asked, "Can other citizens ask the Minister of Justice to cancel prosecution for their own cases?" Na explained, "I spoke as a former floor leader representing 27 lawmakers and their aides." Han responded, "You are distorting my words. That was not the situation at the time. I won't go into details, but wasn't it otherwise?" Na pressed again, "You say it was a secret, personal request. Is that personal wrongdoing?" Han said, "It is unacceptable for you (Na) to request the Minister of Justice to cancel prosecution for a case in which you are personally involved. What do you think the public would think?"

Na and Won criticize Han's remark on "prosecution during President Yoon's tenure as Prosecutor General" as "problematic"

Na also criticized Han's mention during the previous day's KBS debate that the Prosecutor General who prosecuted the fast-track case was President Yoon, saying, "A party leader must take responsibility for faults in the trust relationship with the president and give credit to the president. Han lacks sincerity in his apology in this regard." She added, "Han always claims credit for good things and blames others for bad things, which makes me think a lot as someone who has been in politics for a long time."

Han fired back by referring to his direct explanation and approval of the arrest motion against former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, saying, "It is self-destructive to belittle and mock the role of the Minister of Justice just because the court later dismissed it for reasons hard to understand." Yoon Sang-hyun indirectly criticized Han, saying, "I also played a key role during the Park Geun-hye administration, but I always kept confidentiality and loyalty until the end."

Won Hee-ryong also joined the attack on Han regarding the recent revelation. Won claimed, "Han's verbal risks are causing serious doubts and criticisms about whether important discussions can be held among comrades, as he dismantles his own camp without distinguishing friend from foe." Regarding a meal Han and Won had near Han's residence in May, Won said, "About two hours after the meal proposal, a reporter from a certain cable channel asked if I was going to meet Han, which shocked me," alleging, "This problem arose from exchanging closed information and giving exclusive stories to some media." Han responded, "Photos of the meal had already been posted on online communities," and Won questioned, "That was before the meal."

Won revealed that Han was asked to resign by Lee Kwan-seop, chief of the Presidential Secretariat, while Han was the emergency committee chairman in January, calling it party interference. He said, "Han publicly revealed the president's representative to the media and proudly said he resisted 'party interference.' How can he communicate with the president?" Han explained, "I just provided a line of background on something already reported in the media."

Han: "Won Hee-ryong called for Lee Myung-bak's party exit and Park Geun-hye's impeachment"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Han also directly attacked Won for his past public statements calling for former President Lee Myung-bak to leave the party and for former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment. Han suggested that someone with a history of attacking former presidents Lee and Park might also demand President Yoon's party exit. Han pointed out, "Right after winning the Jeju governor election in 2018, Won said the Moon Jae-in administration scored 80 points, but the Park Geun-hye administration scored negative points," questioning, "How can we believe he won't betray President Yoon in this way?" Won countered, "The pattern of attacking the messenger while escaping responsibility is too obvious and no longer works." He added, "From the two cases, the ruling party split, and if, for example, someone leaves the party, we all lose. I deeply felt this lesson. If I could go back, I wouldn't do that."

As this was the final broadcast debate, apologies for previous remarks were also made. Han apologized again for revealing the request to cancel the fast-track prosecution, and Won expressed regret for his comment accusing Han of "deliberate defeat in the general election," which is interpreted as considering the impact on party member voting. The PPP will conduct voting by party members and a public opinion poll from the 19th to the 22nd, and announce the results at the 4th party convention on the 23rd. Specifically, mobile voting by the electorate will be held until the 20th, followed by ARS voting and public opinion polling on the 21st and 22nd. If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff will be held on the 28th. This leadership election reflects 80% party member votes and 20% public opinion poll. The total number of party member voters is 843,292.