Pro-Park Faction "Pro-Yoon, Impeachment Traitor Frame Against Han Dong-hoon" Backlash

Shin Jiho "Ruling party, identifying pro-votes after impeachment resolution passed"
Kim Jonghyuk "Why blame all responsibility on Han?"

As the responsibility of People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon intensifies over the passage of the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol, the pro-Han (pro-Han Dong-hoon) faction is collectively pushing back. They argue that it was President Yoon Suk-yeol who disrupted national order by declaring martial law, and it is unfair for pro-Yoon lawmakers to frame Han as a 'traitor' over the passage of the impeachment motion.

Handonghun, the leader of the People Power Party, is attending an emergency members' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Shin Ji-ho, the pro-Han People Power Party Deputy Head of Strategic Planning, stated on June 16 on MBC Radio’s ‘Kim Jong-bae’s Focus’ that “It is clearly evident that the pro-Yoon faction is attempting to oust Leader Han,” adding, “They are trying to remove Leader Han as a political maneuver, but we cannot just stand by and accept it.”

Deputy Head Shin said, “Many people ask, ‘President Yoon made the mistake, so why is Han Dong-hoon being blamed?’” He added, “Yesterday, in the lawmakers’ Telegram group chat, there was even talk of ‘If we take over the party leadership, we should audit the party members’ bulletin board and expel Han Dong-hoon altogether.’”

He explained, “President Yoon rejected the voluntary resignation roadmap proposed by the party and said he would ‘fight to the end.’ In that case, the party should have allowed conscience-based voting and set the party stance through autonomous voting, but they deliberately maintained a party stance to reject the motion. This was left as a card to oust Leader Han.”

He also pointed out, “The lawmakers’ meeting held after the passage of the impeachment motion was almost like a people's tribunal,” adding, “Each person was forced to stand up and confess whether they voted for or against. This is a violation of the constitution.”

Former Supreme Council Member Kim Jong-hyuk appeared on SBS Radio’s ‘Kim Tae-hyun’s Political Show’ the same day and said, “By declaring martial law, President Yoon sucked all political issues into a black hole, and as a result, our party has become like a candle in the wind,” adding, “The impeachment came as a rebuttal to the unconstitutional and illegal measure of martial law.”

Former Council Member Kim pointed out, “What’s strange is that instead of criticism or anger toward President Yoon’s martial law, all the main party factions seem to be focused on preventing the impeachment,” adding, “That is incomprehensible.”

Regarding the ‘Han Dong-hoon responsibility theory’ emerging within the party, he said, “It’s like blaming the person you rescued from drowning for causing the trouble, saying ‘It’s your fault we are in this difficulty,’ and turning the blame on Leader Han,” and questioned, “Where were those who make such claims on the day martial law was declared? Why didn’t they come to the National Assembly?”