[Yongsan Report] Presidential Office 'Simmering'... Yoon-Han 'Tightrope Walking' Nervous

Concerns Over Resumption of 'Mud-slinging Fight' in Kim Daenam Transcript
Presidential Office Manages Public Image... Internal Tensions Boil
Medical School, Private Meetings, Dinners Followed by Imminent Yoon-Han Conflict

On the 1st, the 76th anniversary of the founding of the armed forces, President Yoon Suk-yeol gave words of encouragement to the military personnel on the stage in front of the Woldae at Gwanghwamun, Seoul, and then showed a clenched fist. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The presidential office is boiling with tension as the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction (Chinhan, meaning pro-Han Dong-hoon) responds strongly to allegations of orchestrating attacks against Han Dong-hoon. After Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, claimed a private meeting with the president and being passed over for a dinner, and now alleges a conspiracy behind attacks on him, targeting Yongsan again, the presidential office is reacting with comments like "This is too much."

On the surface, Yongsan is trying to moderate the situation by saying "We should not provoke conflict with the party," but there is a possibility of a full-scale clash ahead. Especially after a recording was revealed in which former senior presidential secretary Kim Dae-nam allegedly ordered attacks on Han ahead of the People Power Party convention, concerns are rising that a 'mud-slinging fight' between the pro-Yoon (Chin Yoon Seok-yeol) faction and the pro-Han faction could resume.

The presidential office is displeased that the ruling party leadership, not the opposition, is escalating the issue by responding strongly to the recording of former senior secretary Kim. A presidential office official said in a phone call, "(Kim's) absurd claims are being treated as if there is a mastermind behind them," adding, "(The party leadership) should act with caution."

With the conflict between the pro-Yoon and pro-Han factions, which began during the party convention, still unresolved, and negative factors piling up, both sides are walking a tense 'tightrope.' Earlier, when news broke about Han's request for a private meeting with President Yoon and the controversy over Han being excluded from the parliamentary leadership dinner, there was much criticism within the presidential office that such unnecessary conflict only gives the opposition an excuse to attack.

On the morning of the 4th, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, shouted slogans urging the Democratic Party of Korea to establish a party resolution for the abolition of the financial investment income tax (Geumtu Tax) at a rally organized by the Korea Stock Investors Association in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

However, the presidential office is refraining from escalating the conflict with Han. Regarding the recording of former senior secretary Kim, the day before they stated, "It is inappropriate to provoke party conflicts," and "The presidential office expresses regret over baseless claims and reckless suspicion reports," directing criticism at the media rather than the pro-Han faction. In a recent briefing with reporters, they avoided criticizing the pro-Han faction when asked about Han's 'Kim Dae-nam fact-finding investigation.'

This appears to be influenced by a sense of crisis that the ruling party should not be further divided amid the Democratic Party's increasing pressure for President Yoon's impeachment. With the Kim Geon-hee special prosecutor bill, which was vetoed and sent back to the National Assembly, facing a re-vote in the plenary session, the possibility of defections from the ruling party is also a burden for Yongsan.

Inside and outside the ruling party, the prevailing analysis is that the conflict between President Yoon and Han will continue for the time being. This is because the differences between the two sides remain significant on issues such as Mrs. Kim’s apology and medical school expansion. A ruling party official said, "Maybe things would be different if they met and resolved issues, but this is not a problem that can be solved just by consultation."