'Kim Gun-hee Special Prosecutor Act' Facing Re-vote... Han Dong-hoon Changes Stance

Controversy Over Party Member Bulletin Board Sparks Backlash from Pro-Han Faction
Han Dong-hoon, Who Opposed Past Special Prosecutor, Shows Ambiguous Stance
Pro-Yoon Faction Furious... "Vile Political Conspiracy"

A peculiar tension is brewing within the People Power Party ahead of the re-vote on the special prosecutor law concerning First Lady Kim Geon-hee (Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Law). This is because Han Dong-hoon, the party leader, has recently shown an ambiguous stance, unlike his clear opposition to the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Law in the past. This is why there are expectations that the conflict between President Yoon Seok-yeol and Leader Han will reach an extreme level ahead of the re-vote on the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Law.

Handonghun, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the 2nd Digital Asset STO Forum breakfast meeting held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 28th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Kim Jong-hyuk, a senior member of the People Power Party aligned with Han Dong-hoon’s faction (Pro-Han faction), said on YTN Radio's 'Shin Yul's News Face-off' on the 28th of last month, when asked whether the controversy over the party members' bulletin board would affect the re-vote on the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Law, "It will have an impact. I don't think it will not affect it." He also emphasized, "The Pro-Yoon Seok-yeol group and those who were in the presidential office are all joining in to attack," adding, "Leader Han might think that the so-called Kim Ok-gyun project is in operation."

The conflict between the Pro-Yoon faction and the Pro-Han faction escalated on the 25th of last month during a heated exchange. Kim Min-jeon, a senior member of the People Power Party, said at the supreme council meeting, "There was a news report about filing complaints against people who write posts calling for Leader Han’s resignation in the party, but please also file complaints against those who send me text messages telling me to resign." Leader Han immediately rebutted, "I hope you check the facts before making such statements." It is known that loud arguments occurred among the leadership during a closed-door meeting following the remarks.

Afterwards, Leader Han’s statements became ambiguous. On the 28th of last month, reports emerged that Leader Han told close associates that he might consider supporting the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Law to prevent unfair attempts to shake the party leadership. Leader Han denied this to reporters, saying, "I did not say that," but did not provide a specific answer regarding the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Law. This is a different tone from his previous appeals against voting in favor ahead of the two prior rejections of the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Law. When the opposition party proposed the third Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Law in October, Leader Han criticized it, saying, "The public will criticize it."

On the 14th, the revised bill for the 'Special Investigation on First Lady Kim Geon-hee' is being passed solely by the opposition party in the National Assembly plenary session. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

The Pro-Han faction says that since there is still time before the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Law vote, they will decide their stance considering the investigation status of the 'Myeong Taegyun Gate.' There is also speculation that Leader Han will continue to maintain an ambiguous attitude until the re-vote on the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Law. Shin Ji-ho, the People Power Party’s deputy head of strategic planning, said in an interview with TV Chosun on the 29th of last month, "There are more than ten days left until the re-vote," adding, "We will wisely handle it by comprehensively judging the situation around the time of the vote."

However, the Pro-Yoon faction is virtually protesting this as a 'relevant act.' They argue that Leader Han should clearly oppose the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Law rather than take an ambiguous stance. Jang Ye-chan, a former senior member of the People Power Party, said on his social media on the 29th of last month, "Leader Han is trying to evade the crisis through a despicable political maneuver," adding, "Even if the special prosecutor law passes by any chance, Leader Han’s political career will be the first to end."

In fact, it is uncertain whether the Pro-Han faction will vote in favor of passing the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Law. The People Power Party decided as a party stance to vote against it in the re-vote after the law was passed in the plenary session led by the opposition party on the 14th of last month. Additionally, the party has supported the special inspector recommendation proposed by Leader Han. On the 19th of last month, Choo Kyung-ho, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the floor strategy meeting, "We officially proposed to the Democratic Party to start the National Assembly recommendation procedure for the appointment of the special inspector," adding, "We ask for the Democratic Party’s active cooperation so that the special inspector system, which has been vacant for eight years, can operate normally."