Revisiting Jeong Ho-seung's Poem 'Storm' from When He Was Party Leader Candidate
Seemingly Targeting Public Anger at President Yoon and Mrs. Kim
Stepping Up with Responsibility as Ruling Party Leader
Han: "Everyone Knows the Problem but Doesn't Solve It"
Change and Reform Needed to Prevent Opposition's Attempt to Destroy Constitutional Order
Urges Democratic Party to Take a Stance on 'North Korea, Russian Troop Dispatch' and More
"Waiting for the storm to pass is not right, and watching the storm with fear is even less right."
On the morning of the 30th, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, referenced the poem "Storm" by poet Jeong Ho-seung during a press conference marking his 100 days in office at the National Assembly. He expressed his determination regarding current political issues, including the personnel reshuffle at the Presidential Office related to First Lady Kim Geon-hee and the push to appoint a special inspector.
Earlier, on July 12, during the Daegu-Gyeongbuk joint rally held at Daegu EXCO while he was a candidate for party leader, Han mentioned this poem, saying, "If you go out now, it's just right to die. (The People Power Party) will collapse further, so come out when they look for you after it collapses more." He then declared his ambition, "When the storm comes, I will stand at the forefront with you, holding an umbrella, becoming a shield and a mountain for you."
Han’s mention of "Storm" on this day, following his new slogan "'Ganggangyakyak' (strongly demanding reform from vested interests and implementing policies for the socially weak) conservatism," is interpreted as both an umbrella to overcome the judgment against the storm-like Yoon Suk-yeol administration and a commitment to continuously check the Presidential Office to regain public sentiment.
Han emphasized, "Everyone knows what the problem is and how to solve it. However, no one has readily stepped forward to solve the problem," adding, "I have stepped up with the responsibility as the ruling party leader to solve the problem. We will unite and come together not to leave the problem unattended but to solve it."
Han diagnosed that in order to prevent the simultaneous decline of President Yoon’s and the People Power Party’s approval ratings and to create momentum for regime re-creation during the remaining 2 years and 6 months of Yoon’s term, securing the so-called Jung-Su-Cheong (moderates, metropolitan area, youth) voter base is essential for the party’s future.
He particularly urged the launch of a ruling-opposition-medical-government consultative body to respond to the surge in medical demand as the top priority to be resolved by November, before the winter cold arrives, calling for reform in the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. Han pressured President Yoon again, saying, "If the medical-government conflict is not resolved in time, it will be a real 'catastrophe,'" and added, "Only by changing our mindset, transforming, and reforming can we block the opposition’s attempt to destroy the constitution."
Han stated, "I will conduct politics that restores the pride and self-respect of conservatism, politics that is not shameful. With patriotism and a spirit of challenge, I will lead the People Power Party’s continuous change and reform," emphasizing, "I believe that the change and reform that started in our party will be the signal flare to reform the entire political arena, which is old, corrupt, and shunned by the people."
He also demanded from the Democratic Party of Korea a clear stance from leader Lee Jae-myung on the launch of the ruling-opposition-medical-government consultative body, an official position on North Korea’s deployment of troops to Ukraine, and a halt to violent political behavior aimed at shielding Lee from criminal charges. Addressing Lee ahead of the ruling-opposition leaders’ meeting, Han warned, "No individual can be above the system, nor should they be. Overturning the judicial system undermines the foundation of the country," and added, "The People Power Party will stop it together with the people. I will take the lead."
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