Handonghun Presides Over First Expanded Party Officials Meeting Since Inauguration
"Kim Lady Issue Must Be Resolved Before Lee Jaemyung's Verdict"
Compares Democratic Party to Hypocritical Paradise 'Omelas'
Begins Strengthening Party Leadership Differentiated from Yongsan
Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, held an expanded party officials meeting on the 23rd and once again took aim at President Yoon Seok-yeol, stating that the public's demands related to First Lady Kim Keon-hee must be addressed before the first trial verdict of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, next month. In particular, he compared the Democratic Party to 'Omelas,' a term used to describe a hideous or hypocritical paradise, and increased pressure by saying that the ruling party cannot be an alternative for public sentiment as long as the issue involving the First Lady remains unresolved.
At 11 a.m. that day, during the expanded party officials meeting held at the National Assembly for the first time since his inauguration, Han asked, "Is there anyone who disagrees that the government and ruling party are in crisis?" and then made these remarks.
Han predicted that after the first trial verdict on Lee’s violation of the Public Official Election Act is delivered on the 15th of next month, the Democratic Party’s special prosecutor and impeachment offensives, as well as unilateral moves in the National Assembly, will intensify. He said, "What should our stance be then? We must have addressed the public’s demands related to the First Lady," adding, "If at that time, issues related to the First Lady remain the number one complaint whenever the public gathers, just like leaving Omelas, the public sentiment that has left the Democratic Party will not come to us."
Omelas is a utopian city featured in the short story "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by American science fiction writer Ursula K. Le Guin. The story centers on the idea that for Omelas to exist as a paradise, the abuse and sacrifice of a child locked in a basement is necessary, and some of those who know this choose to leave Omelas and never return.
Without reform related to the First Lady, the hearts of the people who have left Lee and the Democratic Party will not turn to the ruling party either. Ultimately, since the People Power Party, failing to win public sentiment, is likely to be overwhelmed by the Democratic Party’s special prosecutor and impeachment offensives as intended, it is interpreted that President Yoon must change his stance. Han emphasized, "This is not a matter of our party’s strategy but a misfortune for the Republic of Korea," and stressed, "We are a political force with good intentions to protect and develop Korea and improve the lives of the people. To be able to do that, we must change and reform now."
Han also criticized President Yoon’s linking of the recommendation of a special inspector and the appointment of directors to the North Korean Human Rights Foundation as a precondition, saying, "It is difficult to gain public sympathy," and reiterated his intention to proceed according to existing promises. Han said, "We strongly demand the Democratic Party’s recommendation of directors to the North Korean Human Rights Foundation and will ultimately see it through," adding, "However, we will not postpone the special inspector recommendation process until after that." He continued, "This is not a matter of a promise with the Democratic Party but a promise with the people," and conveyed, "During the meeting with President Yoon, I said we would practically proceed with the special inspector recommendation process."
Some interpret that Han is distancing himself from Yongsan to gather public sentiment that has defected from the Democratic Party, while organizing the party atmosphere and starting moves to strengthen his party leadership. This is because Han needs a stronger support base within the party to bring about a change in stance from President Yoon and the presidential office. The meeting was attended not only by People Power Party leadership such as floor leader Choo Kyung-ho, secretary-general Seo Beom-su, and policy committee chairman Kim Sang-hoon but also by many chairpersons of standing committees appointed by Han so far.
Following the 6th, Han again gathered pro-Han (pro-Han Dong-hoon) faction members for a dinner the day before, reaffirming factional unity. Despite the National Assembly audit being underway, Han convened the dinner in a 'lightning' format, and 21 incumbent lawmakers attended. According to pro-Han faction members who attended, Han listened to complaints about President Yoon and the presidential office expressed by attendees and, toward the end of the dinner, urged, "Let us share the seriousness of the situation and work together to overcome it well."
Regarding some medical organizations expressing willingness to participate in the ruling-opposition-government consultative body, Han criticized the Democratic Party, saying, "There is a mood trying to belittle it by saying that it is not enough." Han urged cooperation for the prompt launch, saying, "Let’s focus on opening the way to a solution without considering political gains or losses," and added, "Since the issue relates to the absolute value of the people’s health, it is not a matter of weighing pros and cons." On the abolition of the financial investment income tax, he pointed out, "The Democratic Party says it will decide after the National Assembly audit," and asked, "Should the Korean stock market and 14 million retail investors be hurt to appease the Democratic Party’s mood?"
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