Handonghun Visits National Cemetery "With the People and the Future"... To Opposition Demanding Special Prosecutor, "The People Will Judge"

Handonghun's First Official Schedule with Visit to National Cemetery
Dinner with Yoon in Yongsan in the Afternoon

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, paid a visit to the National Cemetery on the 24th as his first official party schedule and stated, "We will listen more, explain more, and persuade more to win the hearts of the people and move forward together into the future."

On the morning of the same day, Han visited the National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, as his first schedule after assuming the party leadership and left this message in the guestbook. The memorial visit was attended by the new leadership, including Supreme Council members Jang Dong-hyeok, Kim Min-jeon, Kim Jae-won, In Yo-han, and youth Supreme Council member Jin Jong-oh, as well as floor leader Choo Kyung-ho, Policy Committee Chair Jeong Jeom-sik, Secretary-General Seong Il-jong, and Chief Deputy Floor Leader Bae Jun-young.

Wearing a black suit, Han paid his respects and observed a moment of silence at the Memorial Tower. He then wrote in the guestbook and placed a wreath inscribed with "People Power Party Leader Han Dong-hoon." Afterwards, he visited the graves of former Presidents Rhee Syngman, Park Chung-hee, Kim Young-sam, and Kim Dae-jung in sequence.

Newly appointed leaders of the People Power Party, including Representative Han Dong-hoon, paid their respects at the National Cemetery on the 24th. Representative Han and the members are walking toward the Memorial Tower. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

Right after the memorial visit, Han told reporters, "Since this is the National Cemetery, I won't say much, but we will do well." On his way to the party leader's office in the National Assembly main building, he added, "I have returned to the National Assembly after several months. I will listen more, persuade, win the hearts of the people, and engage in politics that moves forward with the people."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is scheduled to invite the new leadership to a dinner at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the same day. Han said, "To achieve good politics for the people, the party and the government must create synergy, and if there are differences, we have been discussing narrowing them through rational debate throughout the month," adding, "I think I will convey such a message."

When asked by reporters if there was a deadline set regarding the proposal of the third-party Chae Sang-byeong special prosecutor law, Han replied, "We are a democratic party. Unlike the Democratic Party under former leader Lee Jae-myung, we are not a party controlled by one person," and said, "I have presented persuasive arguments, explained the advantages, and how it can appeal to the people well, so I will explain that properly."

He continued, "I believe that by proposing this (third-party Chae Sang-byeong special prosecutor law), we can dispel the public's misunderstanding that the People Power Party is passive in uncovering the truth," and questioned, "Former leader Lee rejected it, and I want to ask why. Why should the special prosecutor appointed by the Democratic Party conduct the investigation for truth-finding? Isn't it right for a third party to take charge?"

Regarding Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won's remarks that "if the party's official stance differs from the leader's opinion, the party stance should be followed, and the floor's opinion takes precedence" on the third-party Chae Sang-byeong special prosecutor law, Han said, "Our party is a democratic party. Not only Supreme Council members but others can have differing opinions," and added, "We can have discussions with differing views."

When asked if he would comply if the party meeting decided to oppose the third-party Chae Sang-byeong special prosecutor law as the party stance, Han dismissed the question by saying, "I don't think it's necessary to decide hypothetically in advance," and stated, "I have spoken, and I have not changed."

Newly appointed leaders of the People Power Party, including Representative Han Dong-hoon, paid their respects at the National Cemetery on the 24th. The guestbook left by Representative Han. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

When a reporter asked about the Democratic Party's five demands, including accepting the Han Dong-hoon and Kim Geon-hee special prosecutor, Han responded, "How should I evaluate that? Today is my first day as party leader, so how can I evaluate such demands?" He continued, "I am worried about how the public will evaluate it. I believe the public will judge by watching such politics," and said, "I will not evaluate it."

Regarding the Democratic Party's move to hold a meeting of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee to push the special prosecutor law, Han said, "We will respond according to procedures," and added, "Is it democracy to push through something that is fundamentally flawed just because you have the majority of seats? It is not. Also, I believe that the Republic of Korea has a system and a public level capable of restraining such reckless insistence."