Handonghun "Party Leader Oversees Both Inside and Outside the Assembly" Directly Criticizes Choo Kyung-ho... Reaffirms Promotion of Special Inspector

Handonghun "Nationwide Election to Oversee Party"
Pro-Yoon and Pro-Han Factions in Full-Scale Confrontation
Pro-Han Faction Demands Parliamentary Meeting for Choo Kyung-ho

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, directly criticized Chu Kyung-ho, the party's floor leader, who expressed opposition to the appointment of a special inspector on the 24th by calling it a "floor issue," saying, "The party leader oversees the entire party's affairs, whether inside or outside the National Assembly."

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Han said, "That is why the party leader takes the lead in floor matters such as the abolition of the financial investment income tax and the normalization of the National Intelligence Service's counterintelligence investigation authority." He added, "Because the person oversees the entire party, the election is held on a nationwide scale."

This was a public rebuttal by Han to Chu's claim that there was no legitimacy for the party leader to push forward the appointment procedure of the special inspector. Han had previously announced at the first expanded party officials meeting he presided over the day before that he would proceed with the recommendation and appointment procedures related to the special inspector. In response, Chu told reporters immediately after the meeting, "As you know, the special inspector requires a recommendation procedure from the National Assembly, so it is a floor-related matter."

Han cited the "presidential election pledge" as the reason for pushing the recommendation and appointment procedures for the special inspector. The People Power Party criticized the previous Moon Jae-in administration for not appointing a special inspector and made it a campaign promise. Han argued that if the related procedures are not pursued by the time President Yoon Seok-yeol reaches the halfway point of his term, the public will not accept it.

Han said, "We are a political force much better than the Moon Jae-in administration, so we are saying that we will proceed with the actual recommendation and appointment procedures for the special inspector," and pointed out, "The current stance that the recommendation of the North Korean Human Rights Foundation directors is a prerequisite for the special inspector's recommendation is difficult to gain public sympathy, especially in the current situation."

He continued, "It might look like we don't want the special inspector, and the Democratic Party of Korea doesn't want to recommend directors for the North Korean Human Rights Foundation, so both sides are neglecting the matter," adding, "If that happens, the public might misunderstand that we are playing political games to avoid appointing a special inspector and to block oversight of the president's close associates. We are not that kind of party."

Handonghun, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

As the situation unfolds with Han's public demand to push the special inspector appointment procedure → Chu's backlash → Han's rebuttal, concerns are emerging that a full-scale confrontation between the pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) faction and the pro-Han (pro-Han Dong-hoon) faction may soon break out.

Chu was absent from the Supreme Council meeting that day to attend a media event, but Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member from the pro-Yoon faction, criticized Han, saying, "When attacks against our side in the name of innovation and change exceed the limits and boundaries, it can cause significant harm to our side," and expressed concern that "there is worry it might lead to mutual destruction of the conservative camp as a 'self-harming act.'"

On the other hand, Kim Jong-hyuk, a Supreme Council member from the pro-Han faction, countered, "As long as we aim for democracy, if we engage in politics against public sentiment, the result can only be ruin," and said, "If we avoid introducing the special inspector system, which was also a presidential pledge, citing all sorts of irrational reasons, it is obvious what kind of evaluation and consequences it will bring from public opinion and sentiment."

While the presidential office outwardly maintains a distance by saying, "This is an internal party matter," internally, there is a clear discomfort with Han independently pushing not only the three major demands related to First Lady Kim Keon-hee but also the appointment of a special inspector to oversee misconduct by the president's spouse and others. It is interpreted as inappropriate to directly demand the president without discussion within the ruling party, especially since the party and government have already set the direction. A presidential office official said, "The party first decided to link the appointment of directors for the North Korean Human Rights Foundation with the special inspector appointment," adding, "We will appoint if the ruling and opposition parties agree."

The battlefield within the ruling party regarding the special inspector appointment is expected to be the People Power Party's general assembly of lawmakers after the National Assembly audit. Pro-Han faction lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction by demanding a clear explanation of Chu's position in the group Telegram chatroom involving all People Power Party lawmakers the day before. Lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin protested in the chatroom, saying, "Does Floor Leader Chu completely oppose the introduction of the special inspector within this government? The floor leader needs to explain." Lawmakers Han Ji-a and Kim Hyeong-dong also joined in, saying, "Since there are various opinions, let's hold a general assembly to listen." In response, Chu said, "After finishing the audit, we will hold a general assembly to hear the opinions of the lawmakers."