Jogeuk Innovation Party Competes with Democratic Party over Han Dong-hoon’s Clarity
Han Dong-hoon "Their Only Goal Is to Harm Me"
With the election of Han Dong-hoon as the new leader of the People Power Party, the opposition's offensive is also intensifying. The Joguk Innovation Party has launched an attack by directly filing complaints regarding allegations of Han’s operation of a public opinion manipulation team. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Korea has shown somewhat cautious movements, refraining from presenting concrete countermeasures.
Han Dong-hoon, who was elected as the leader of the People Power Party, is giving an acceptance speech at the 4th People Power Party Convention held on the 23rd at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
On the 24th, the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee plans to hold a plenary session at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, with the so-called "Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor Act" as the first agenda item. The Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor Act includes investigations into allegations of "instigating complaints" during Han’s tenure as prosecutor and Minister of Justice, as well as suspicions of ghostwriting academic papers for his children. It is the first bill introduced by the Joguk Innovation Party in the 22nd National Assembly, with all 12 party members as co-sponsors.
The Joguk Innovation Party is applying pressure on Han by taking judicial actions such as filing complaints. On the previous day, Cha Gyu-geun, a member of the Joguk Innovation Party, additionally proposed the Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor Act, which includes investigating the operation of the public opinion manipulation team. Cha said, "It must be clarified through investigation whether Han Dong-hoon actually operated a public opinion manipulation team during his tenure as Minister of Justice," adding, "If the allegations are true, that itself would be considered illegal conduct under normal job authority." On the 22nd, the Joguk Innovation Party also filed a complaint with the National Police Agency’s National Investigation Headquarters against Han for abuse of power, which is also related to the public opinion manipulation team allegations.
The Democratic Party has also started pressuring Han but is moving relatively cautiously. Instead of immediately filing complaints, they plan to form a task force (TF) to address allegations regarding Han’s operation of the public opinion manipulation team and suspicions of Na Kyung-won, a People Power Party lawmaker, requesting the dismissal of a public prosecution. Lee Hae-sik, the Democratic Party’s chief spokesperson, told reporters at the National Assembly the previous day, "At the last Supreme Council meeting, Park Chan-dae, acting leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party, instructed the party secretary-general to review the formation of a TF," adding, "I understand that the practical work is currently underway."
According to a party support poll conducted by the polling agency Realmeter from the 18th to 19th among 1,003 voters aged 18 and older nationwide, the People Power Party’s support rate rose by 4.1 percentage points from the previous week to 42.1%. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party’s support dropped by 1.8 percentage points to 33.2%, and the Joguk Innovation Party’s support fell by 1 percentage point to 9.3%. The Joguk Innovation Party’s support rate has continued to decline this month, falling below the 10% threshold. This is interpreted as the party competing with the Democratic Party in terms of clarity by focusing its attacks on Han.
Han described the opposition’s claims of "judicial risk" as "absurd." At a press conference immediately after his election the previous day, Han said, "Such absurdity and threats will not prevent me and the People Power Party from moving toward new change," adding, "(The Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor Act) has no purpose other than to harm me in some way."
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