20-30 People from Chinhan Faction, 40-50 from Chinyun Faction
First Trip to Daegu After Inauguration... Expanding 'Conservative Stronghold' Forces
Likely to Persuade Democratic Party at 2nd Ruling-Opposition Leaders' Meeting
On the 25th, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, escalated his offensive regarding the appointment procedure for a special inspector to resolve the risks related to First Lady Kim Keon-hee, stating, "Our party has never decided to attach conditions to the implementation of election pledges," emphasizing that the pledges should be fulfilled as promised. However, opposition is expected as the pro-Yoon faction, including President Yoon Seok-yeol and floor leader Choo Kyung-ho, oppose the move, and the major opposition party, the Democratic Party, only demands a special investigation law for the First Lady. It is anticipated that Han will employ a two-track strategy, persuading moderate forces within the party and Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung.
On the morning of the same day, Han wrote on Facebook, "If anyone opposes the implementation of our party's election pledges, that person must explain to the public the valid reasons for opposing the promises made to the people," directly targeting the pro-Yoon faction. Ahead of the upcoming party meeting for the special inspector appointment procedure, Han intends to assert his will using "President Yoon's pledge" and "public sentiment" as weapons against opposition from the pro-Yoon faction. Since the pro-Han faction is currently weaker than the pro-Yoon faction, he also seems to aim to win over neutral lawmakers. Among the 108 People Power Party lawmakers, about 20 to 30 belong to the pro-Han faction, 30 to 40 to the pro-Yoon faction, and approximately 50 to 60 are considered neutral.
Han's visit to Daegu on the same day, his first since becoming party leader, is also interpreted as a move to expand his influence before the party meeting. Ostensibly, Han's purpose in Daegu was to attend the 'Daegu Women's Political Academy' hosted by the Daegu City Party and the 'Decentralization and Integration Forum,' where lawmaker Kwon Young-jin serves as a standing advisor. However, amid conflicts between Han and floor leader Choo Kyung-ho (Daegu Dalseong-gun) over the special inspector appointment procedure, his visit to Daegu, a conservative stronghold, is seen by political circles as an attempt to remind the party's mainstream Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) lawmakers of the growing public dissatisfaction with the First Lady and to rally them to his side. A People Power Party lawmaker said, "Public sentiment against the First Lady is worsening even in TK, so Han's visit could be a catalyst," adding, "It could directly influence the actions of People Power Party lawmakers."
It is expected that after overcoming the party meeting hurdle, Han will also attempt to persuade Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung. Even if the People Power Party adopts the appointment as party policy, the Democratic Party, which holds the majority, opposes the special inspector system, arguing it lacks investigative and prosecutorial powers, potentially making the recommendation and appointment process impossible. On the same day, Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae criticized at the Supreme Council meeting, "People Power Party should stop their pointless internal fights over recommending a special inspector and actively cooperate with the special investigation on Kim Keon-hee."
In the anticipated second round of inter-party leader talks with Lee, Han is expected to raise the appointment of the special inspector and the recommendation of directors to the North Korean Human Rights Foundation, which the Democratic Party opposes, urging Lee's participation. At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly the previous day, Han emphasized, "We don't want to appoint a special inspector, and the Democratic Party doesn't want to recommend directors to the North Korean Human Rights Foundation, so it looks like we're neglecting each other," adding, "We will strongly demand and enforce the Democratic Party's recommendation of directors to the North Korean Human Rights Foundation, but we will not delay the special inspector recommendation process by linking it to that."
People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon is appealing for support with local candidates at Seomun Market in Jung-gu, Daegu on April 21, when he was the overall election campaign committee chairman during the last general election. [Image source=Yonhap News]
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