Handonghun Elected as People Power Party Leader with 62.8% Votes, Wins Decisively Without Runoff (Summary)

Jang Dong-hyeok, Kim Jae-won, In Yo-han, Kim Min-jeon, Jin Jong-oh Elected as Supreme Council Members

Han Dong-hoon was elected as the leader of the People Power Party.

Seo Byung-soo, the election commissioner of the People Power Party, announced on the 23rd at the party's 4th convention held at KINTEX in Goyang that Han was elected as the party leader based on the combined results of party member votes and opinion polls.

Han secured 62.69% (255,930 votes) from the electorate and 63.46% (64,772 votes) from the opinion poll conversion, totaling 62.84% (320,702 votes), ranking first. He won a majority in the first round, confirming his position as party leader without a runoff.

Handonghun, the elected leader of the People Power Party (fourth from the left), is taking a commemorative photo with the elected Supreme Council members after receiving the party flag at the 4th People Power Party Convention held on the 23rd at KINTEX in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province. From the left: In Yohan, Kim Minjeon, Jang Donghyuk, Party Leader Handonghun, Kim Jaewon, and Jin Jong-oh, Youth Supreme Council member. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

Candidate Won Hee-ryong came in second with a combined 18.85% (20.19% electorate, 13.45% opinion poll), Na Kyung-won was third with 14.58% (13.72% electorate, 18.05% opinion poll), and Yoon Sang-hyun placed fourth with 3.73% (3.40% electorate, 5.05% opinion poll).

Initially, the People Power Party convention was held amid a mood of 'Eodaehan' (meaning "Han Dong-hoon will be the leader anyway"), but controversies such as Kim Geon-hee’s text messages, allegations of vote-buying in the last general election, and requests to cancel fast-track indictments arose, raising the possibility of a runoff.

However, Han secured an overwhelming lead not only among party members but also in opinion polls, allowing him to seize party leadership.

Jang Dong-hyuk, Kim Jae-won, In Yo-han, and Kim Min-jeon were elected as Supreme Council members. Although Park Jung-hoon ranked fourth in the Supreme Council race, Kim Min-jeon was elected as the female Supreme Council member. Jin Jong-oh was elected as the youth Supreme Council member.

Among the Supreme Council members, Jang Dong-hyuk and Jin Jong-oh are considered close to Han. Considering the policy committee chairperson and appointed Supreme Council member whom Han can designate, he can secure a majority in the nine-member Supreme Council. However, Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho and Supreme Council members Kim Jae-won, In Yo-han, and Kim Min-jeon are classified as pro-Yoon faction, creating a certain balance between the pro-Han and pro-Yoon factions.

In his acceptance speech, Han evaluated the current government by saying, "The Yoon Seok-youl administration is already competent," and added, "In that regard, we can take pride." However, he cited the reason for not being evaluated well in the general election as "because we listened less and persuaded less," promising, "I will take the lead with the Supreme Council members to listen more, explain more, and persuade more."

Han also promised bold party reforms. He said, "I will make sure that there will never again be talk of being cautious or of being a well-being party," and added, "Our People Power Party will practice politics where politicians do not seek well-being but supporters and party members do." Regarding relations with the opposition, he declared, "We will firmly oppose and win against forces that threaten democracy."

Handonghun, the elected leader of the People Power Party, is delivering his acceptance speech at the 4th Party Convention of the People Power Party held on the 23rd at KINTEX in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Regarding the issue of party unity, which was a red flag during the primary, Han quoted former President Park Geun-hye’s remark after the 2007 presidential primary, "Let us forget everything that happened during the primary. If it cannot be forgotten overnight, then let us forget it over several days or weeks," and said, "I will go forward together with all those who competed together," promising, "I will devote special care."