Kim Tae-heum: "Han Dong-hoon called saying, 'How can you insult the party leader?'... It's bleak"

"Amateurish and frustrating... This is serious"
Direct hit on 'Close Faction Dinner'... "Are they a faction boss?"

Kim Tae-heum, governor of Chungnam Province from the People Power Party, criticized Han Dong-hoon, the party leader, saying that Han called him to complain, "How can a party member insult the leader?" and added, "I don't understand. It's bleak."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 23rd, after attending a seminar of the pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Suk-yeol) faction's external organization forum called "Meeting to Prepare for a New Future" held at the Air Force Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Governor Kim told reporters, "I posted something on social media (SNS) out of frustration last Sunday, and then I received a call from Leader Han."

On the 20th, Kim had posted on his SNS to Han, who was scheduled to meet with President Yoon, saying, "There has never been a history where the ruling party leader confronts the president and tramples on the president to regain power," and added, "I hope the party leader becomes someone serious who foresees and prepares for the future, not someone with prosecutorial traits, quick-witted speech, frivolity, or attention-seeking behavior."

At the earlier seminar, he said, "I asked Leader Han, '(You called me) because you were upset by unpleasant words?' and Han replied, 'It was not unpleasant words but insults.' Then he said, 'He saw 'prosecutorial traits' and 'attention-seeking' as insults.' So I told him, 'Even if it sounds unpleasant, it's not an insult,' but Han argued, 'How can a party member insult the party leader?' and I said, 'That is exactly prosecutorial behavior,'" criticizing him.

Governor Kim said, "The party leader is criticized by party members every day, and if the party leader makes a mistake, shouldn't the party members attack him?" He directly confronted Leader Han, saying, "How can you be a party leader if you can't handle something like that?"

Kim also took issue with Han's dinner meeting with pro-Han (pro-Han Dong-hoon) faction members the day before. He said, "Meeting with about 20 lawmakers who are his supporters is not normal," and added, "If he is the party leader, he shouldn't go even if 20 people ask to meet. What kind of faction boss does he think he is? It's so amateurish and frustrating." He raised his voice, saying, "The party leader only seems to be thinking about how to become a presidential candidate and run. Is he an amateur? Not even an adult. This is a big problem."

Governor Kim gave a positive evaluation of the meeting between Leader Han and President Yoon Suk-yeol. He said, "I think the meeting itself is meaningful," and added, "If they meet frequently like this and create opportunities to frankly discuss state affairs and current events, that would be good."