Han Dong-hoon, Found by TK, Says "Today's Korea Exists Because of Park Chung-hee's Industrialization Decision"

Governor Lee Cheol-woo Also Held a Meeting... Aimed to Rally Supporters
Visited Gumi Semiconductor Site to Hear Difficulties

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, visited the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, on the 3rd and met with Lee Cheol-woo, governor of Gyeongbuk Province, to rally support from his base.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the same day, Han toured former President Park’s birthplace with fellow party lawmakers and wrote in the guestbook, "Thanks to President Park Chung-hee’s decisive industrialization and implementation, today’s Republic of Korea exists." This visit to the Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) region was Han’s first since the party convention in July, and his first visit since taking office. Amid conflicts with other candidates during the convention and controversies surrounding the third-party method of the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecutor law, which Han had publicly advocated, this visit to the conservative heartland of TK is interpreted as an effort to seek a breakthrough.

Afterward, Han visited the Saemaul Theme Park and met with Governor Lee. At this meeting, Han and Lee exchanged views on administrative integration in the TK region. During the party convention, Lee had refused to meet Han, creating some tension between them. By arranging this meeting, Han appears to be aiming for party unity.

Prior to visiting former President Park’s birthplace, Han visited semiconductor materials and parts companies in Gumi and the Gumi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Since Gumi has been designated as a national advanced strategic industrial complex specializing in semiconductors, this visit is interpreted as emphasizing the People Power Party’s policy efforts to foster the semiconductor industry.

Han held a roundtable with semiconductor company representatives, listened to their difficulties, and emphasized his determination to make Gumi, the conservative heartland, the heart of South Korea’s semiconductor industry.