Handonghun on 'Party Member Bulletin Board Controversy': "Thorough Investigation Will Reveal the Truth"

"Jajungjiran is not something to fall into... We will respond well"
"It is not appropriate to explain every single thing"

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, said regarding the controversy over defamatory posts about President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife being posted under his and his family's names on the 'party member bulletin board,' "A thorough investigation will be conducted, and the truth will be revealed."

Handonghun, the leader of the People Power Party, is answering questions from reporters after the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

On the 21st, after concluding the Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, Han told reporters, "I don't think this is a matter that should lead to unnecessary internal strife. As party leader, I will make a sound judgment and respond accordingly."

When asked why he does not respond to each allegation raised against him and his family, he replied, "Given the many important issues at this time, such as the sentencing of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, it is the party leader's judgment that responding to every issue would be inappropriate as it would overshadow other matters."

Regarding the facts about his own family, Han drew a line by saying, "I will leave it at what I have said. It is not appropriate to explain each case individually." Han had previously clarified that the posts made under his name were not written by him. He did not clearly state whether the posts under his family's names were fabricated.

Within the pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) faction, some argue that since Han's family may have manipulated public opinion through the party member bulletin board, a party audit should be conducted. However, Joo Jin-woo, the party's legal advisory committee chairman, and Han's side said that under the Political Parties Act, it is impossible to view or disclose the personal information of party members registered under Han's family's names. The Political Parties Act includes provisions such as "A warrant issued by a judge is required to investigate the party member list for criminal investigations" and "Except when the Election Commission verifies matters concerning party members, party members are not compelled to allow access to the party member list."

Within the party, voices are calling for a swift resolution to the party member bulletin board controversy. A first-term lawmaker from the People Power Party said, "It seems they keep explaining that it cannot be done because it is not subject to a party audit," adding, "The atmosphere is turning strange, and since it keeps becoming a source of conflict, it needs to be resolved quickly."