Strong Statement at the Supreme Council Meeting
"I Have No Intention of Being Led by Political Brokers"
Calls for Staff Reshuffle and Shift in National Policy Direction
Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, on the 4th urged President Yoon Seok-yeol to apologize and called for First Lady Kim Geon-hee to suspend her external activities in response to the recent situation sparked by a phone call with political broker Myeong Tae-gyun. He appears to believe that the recent series of events cannot be overcome by the 'appointment of a special inspector' he advocated alone, and thus called for a strong reform.
At the People Power Party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly main building that day, Han said, "To overcome this crisis, we must be honest and bold. The People Power Party I lead now has no intention of being dragged around by such political brokers, nor is there any reason to do so."
Handonghun, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Han's remarks came four days after the release of the recorded conversation between President Yoon and Myeong. The Democratic Party of Korea directly disclosed the call between President Yoon and Myeong during Yoon's president-elect period on the 31st of last month, raising suspicions that he intervened in the nomination of former lawmaker Kim Young-sun. Subsequently, on the 2nd, the Democratic Party held an outdoor rally urging the passage of the 'Special Investigation Act for First Lady Kim Geon-hee.'
In response, Han said, "Last weekend, the Democratic Party leadership mobilized en masse to the streets, inciting a suspension of the country's constitutional order," adding, "Their intention is so obvious it can be seen through. They want to halt the constitutional order altogether before the final guilty verdict on the serious criminal charges against Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is confirmed."
Han argued that change and reform are essential to prevent such conspiracies and provocations by the Democratic Party. First, he said, "The People Power Party firmly and strongly urges a strict and swift investigation into matters related to the political broker at the party level."
He continued, "The president should honestly disclose the concerns of the people and take necessary measures, including an apology," emphasizing, "History shows that unvarnished truth before the people has always been the best. Trying to hide, omit, or add will only make a small problem grow into a bigger one." He demanded a reorganization and reform of the presidential aides to this end.
Handonghun, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Regarding the First Lady, Han urged an "immediate suspension of external activities." He said, "It is now too obvious that the procedure to appoint a special inspector must proceed immediately to prevent recurrence of such incidents," adding, "If hesitation is shown in appointing the special inspector, which is naturally required by law in this situation, the conservative camp will face mutual destruction."
Han also stressed, "If something must be done, it should be done without delay." He said, "A shift in the national administration's policy direction is definitely needed without further delay," acknowledging, "Public sentiment has turned sharply. It is painful but unavoidable to admit that public resentment toward unilateral governance has grown." He added, "We must review whether the content and method of the national policy appeared unilateral and correct them."
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