Handonghun's First Statement After Meeting with Yoon
"Focusing Only on the People, Following Public Sentiment
Resolving Issues Without Avoidance"
Likely to Exchange Opinions on Mrs. Kim's Issue
On the 22nd, Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party, urgently convened lawmakers from the pro-Han (pro-Han Dong-hoon) faction. It is analyzed that he judged swift unity was necessary as his meeting with President Yoon ended 'empty-handed' and there were still noises coming from various places even a day later.
According to pro-Han faction members, Han reportedly called for an unscheduled dinner in the pro-Han group chat in the afternoon, suggesting meeting for dinner at a location in Yeouido. So far, about 10 people have expressed their intention to attend, and some lawmakers are reportedly considering attending after the National Assembly audit ends.
At the dinner, it is expected that opinions will be exchanged regarding the personnel reshuffle in the presidential office related to First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who was effectively rejected during the previous day's meeting between President Yoon and Han, suspension of activities, cooperation in clarifying suspicions, and dissenting votes on the Kim Keon-hee special prosecutor law.
Han was scheduled to attend a pension reform-related discussion hosted by People Power Party lawmaker Park Soo-young at the National Assembly in the morning but canceled the schedule and is known to have devised strategies related to the political situation.
After greeting the winners of the October 16 by-elections at the Ganghwa Pungmul Market in Incheon in the afternoon, Han reaffirmed his determination to reporters by saying, "I will only look to the people, follow public sentiment, not avoid issues, and solve problems."
It is also expected that Han will directly listen to the dissatisfaction expressed by the pro-Han faction regarding the results of the previous day's meeting between President Yoon and Han, and the separate dinner held with Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho after the meeting.
Shin Ji-ho, a key figure in the pro-Han faction and deputy head of strategic planning for the People Power Party, appeared on CBS Radio that day and criticized President Yoon's statement that personnel authority is an inherent right, saying, "I do not understand it as an inherent right where even expressing opinions is not allowed," and added, "That kind of thing is only possible in absolute monarchies."
Kim Jong-hyuk, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party from the pro-Han faction, told Asia Economy about his thoughts on the dinner between President Yoon and Floor Leader Choo, "It is not common sense. I heard that Floor Leader Choo had a meal at the National Assembly and Secretary General Park Jeong-ha even went to see the briefing on the meeting contents," and said, "It is strange why he was suddenly called. It is not about dividing the party, but it looks like they are trying to shake the party leader by mobilizing only the floor leader separately."
He continued, "While meeting with Leader Han, they said it had to end by 6 p.m., so it ended, but it turned out to be a meal with aides. I thought they were meeting a foreign diplomatic envoy or something," and emphasized, "I thought the reason the president does not eat with the leader was because of something very important, but it turned out not to be the case."
A pro-Han faction member who requested anonymity also expressed indignation in a phone call with Asia Economy, saying, "Having a separate dinner between President Yoon and Floor Leader Choo right after the meeting with Leader Han is openly trying to exclude Leader Han," and added, "If that was not the intention, then Chief Presidential Secretary Jeong Jin-seok, who attended the meeting, should have informed Leader Han about Floor Leader Choo's participation in the dinner and invited him."
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