Handonghun, Following Pro-Friendly Dinner, Expands Physical Contact at Lunch with Non-Assembly Party Branch Chairpersons (Comprehensive)

Promise of 'Revival of Jigu Party' to Party Branch Chairmen
Political Circle Analyzes 'Full-Scale Start of Intra-Party Factionalization'
Han Dong-hoon Warns Against Overinterpretation of "Scheduled Promise"
Pro-Yoon Faction Opposes "Inappropriate Faction Meetings"

On the 7th, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, had lunch with about 90 non-incumbent committee chairpersons and reiterated his promise to revive the district party offices. Following a dinner with about 20 pro-Han faction lawmakers the previous day, his immediate engagement with non-incumbent figures the next day is interpreted as an effort to consolidate power within the party.

At a restaurant in Yeouido, Seoul, Han responded to requests related to the revival of district party offices by saying, "I also discussed this during talks with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, and they said they would do it too. This is something that must be done and will be done," according to reports.

According to attendees, requests such as "Please refrain from party-government conflicts" and "Increase contact with ordinary citizens" were made on site, and Han reportedly showed agreement. The lunch was arranged in conjunction with a training session for non-incumbent committee chairpersons held that afternoon at the National Assembly Library. Han also attended this event to encourage the non-incumbent chairpersons.

When a reporter mentioned concerns about First Lady Kim Geon-hee and the special prosecutor law, Han avoided commenting, saying, "Since the party committee chairpersons gathered and exchanged opinions frankly in a closed session, it is not appropriate for me to comment."

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 7th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Han’s consecutive meals with both incumbent and non-incumbent figures are seen as an effort to consolidate his faction. This is viewed as a move to secure leadership in the political landscape amid adverse situations such as the upcoming national audit and the special prosecutor investigations involving First Lady Kim and Chae Sang-byeong. It also appears to be aimed at checking internal party forces that criticize his leadership limitations as a non-incumbent representative.

At the dinner with about 20 pro-Han faction lawmakers the previous day, multiple attendees reported that Han said, "I will take the lead and work hard," and urged, "I will not step back. Please trust and follow me." At this gathering, Han repeatedly emphasized the "people’s expectations," and when some attendees expressed concerns about the opposition’s planned full-scale attack during the national audit over suspicions involving First Lady Kim Geon-hee, he reportedly said, "Let’s observe the situation and respond accordingly."

On the same day, lawmaker Cho Kyung-tae appeared on KBS radio and shared, "We shared concerns that if Yongsan does not change, the public opinion and popular sentiment could deteriorate further," adding, "There are various upcoming elections and many issues the party must lead, and we had many conversations about the fear that we might lose leadership in these areas."

However, dinner attendees cautioned against overinterpretation, saying, "Interpreting Han’s factionalization and lineage politics as a signal could cause party division." A senior lawmaker who attended the dinner told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "Yesterday’s dinner was about uniting around the party leader to do well, so calling it factionalization is inappropriate." Another lawmaker also warned against escalating factional conflicts, saying, "We gain nothing by being called the Han Dong-hoon faction."

Han himself denied the interpretation of faction consolidation, saying, "Yesterday was just a dinner, and today was scheduled long ago," and added, "Rather, hosting discussions with non-incumbent party committee chairpersons is late rather than early. I thought we should have talked sooner."

However, voices opposing Han’s dining political moves are emerging from the pro-Yoon faction.

Kwon, a five-term lawmaker and former first Minister of Unification under the Yoon Seok-youl administration, criticized the previous day’s dinner on his Facebook in the afternoon, saying, "At a time when unity is insufficient, holding such factional meetings is highly inappropriate."

Kwon Seong-dong, a leading figure of the pro-Yoon faction, also appeared on Channel A’s YouTube channel the same day and said, "There have been occasions where lawmakers who helped someone become party leader were invited for meals, but I have never seen such a public and blatant advertisement of a dining gathering," and pointed out, "Reports that pro-Han faction lawmakers had dinner together could potentially cause party division."

Meanwhile, regarding the question of whether the party’s audit committee investigation into Kim Dae-nam, former acting secretary for citizen communication at the presidential office, who is suspected of ordering a left-wing YouTuber to attack Han during the July 23 party convention, would be effective, Han reiterated his firm stance on responding decisively. Kim resigned from the People Power Party on the 2nd, following the release of audio recordings by the left-wing YouTube channel.

Han said, "We are a party that embraces others, but there must be discipline at a minimum. Such behavior is unacceptable. I reiterate that we will conduct inspections and take necessary measures to establish discipline," adding, "If there are shortcomings in the party’s investigation, there is the judicial system of the Republic of Korea."

Handonghun, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 7th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@