Supporters See Off Han's Last Commute
Han Dong-hoon: "I Will Protect You All"
Resignation Press Conference Directly Targets Lee Jae-myung and Democratic Party
"Martial Law, Even If Wrong, Does Not Justify Democratic Party's Reckless Actions"
Handonghun, the leader of the People Power Party, is greeting supporters after concluding a press conference regarding his resignation as party leader at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
"Everyone, I will do my utmost until the end to make this country prosper."
Former People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon said this on the 16th, two days after the impeachment motion was passed, when he met dozens of supporters who came out to see him off on his last commute as party leader right after his resignation press conference. It appears he was trying to calm and reassure supporters who were saddened and angered by his resignation, while also expressing his determination not to stop his political activities.
As Han moved to get into his vehicle, PPP Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong, along with lawmakers Yoon Sang-hyun, Park Jeong-ha, and Han Ji-ah, were by his side. After stopping in front of the car, Han patted Acting Leader Kwon on the shoulder and said, "Please take good care of things." Then, looking at the cameras, he bowed 90 degrees and said, "Please lead the party well. Please lead the Republic of Korea well. Thank you," before getting into the car.
Not long after, Han's vehicle was surrounded by supporters. The supporters showed tears and expressed feelings of injustice and anger over Han's resignation. As the supporters choked up and chanted, "We will protect you, Leader" and "Han Dong-hoon, fighting," Han opened the car door he had closed and said, "Everyone, don't try to protect me," adding, "I will protect you." He also handed a paper containing the prepared press conference statement to a YouTuber that day.
Han's statement, "I will not give up," came next. When supporters did not leave, Han opened the door once more and came out, saying, "Thank you for coming out on this cold day." The vehicle carrying Han then left the National Assembly.
After Han left, some supporters appeared angry at pro-Han (pro-Han Dong-hoon) faction lawmakers, shouting "Traitor Park Jeong-ha" and "Where is traitor Jang Dong-hyeok?" In response, lawmakers Park Jeong-ha, Han Ji-ah, and Seo Beom-su tried to calm the supporters, saying, "That's not the case."
Han Dong-hoon: "I am heartbroken over supporting impeachment, but I do not regret it"
Handonghun, the leader of the People Power Party, is holding a press conference to resign from his position at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
"Many thoughts briefly crossed my mind, and thinking of the supporters who are heartbroken is painful, but I still do not regret it."
At the party leader resignation press conference held at the National Assembly at 10:30 a.m. that day, former leader Han recalled being asked by a reporter whether he regretted supporting the impeachment motion after the party meeting held immediately following the passage of the motion, when party lawmakers pressured him to resign. Han said, "With the resignation of the Supreme Council members, the Supreme Council collapsed, making it impossible to perform normal duties as party leader." He resigned 146 days after being elected as the 3rd People Power Party leader with 62.84% of the vote at the July 23 party convention.
Earlier, on the 14th, right after the impeachment motion was passed, Han had indicated he would continue to perform his duties. However, with all the Supreme Council members, including Jang Dong-hyeok and Jin Jong-oh, who were part of 'Team Han Dong-hoon,' resigning, and considering that directly appointing an emergency committee chairperson would not help his future political career as a leading presidential candidate within the ruling party, he apparently decided to step down.
Han bowed his head and said, "I tried every possible way to find a better path for this country rather than impeachment, but ultimately failed. It is all because of my shortcomings. I am sorry." Regarding blocking President Yoon's emergency martial law, he said, "On the night of December 3, our People Power Party leader and lawmakers were the first to stand with the people to stop an illegal martial law imposed by the president our party produced. We protected the constitution and democracy," adding, "I believe that is the true spirit of conservatism."
This is interpreted as a remark targeting pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) faction members who opposed the impeachment motion and called for Han's resignation and withdrawal from the party. Han sharply criticized, "Even if it was done by a president our party produced, misunderstanding that we support illegal martial law mobilizing the military betrays this great country and its people who achieved both industrialization and democratization, the spirit of conservatism, and our party's brilliant achievements." He also criticized the deployment of martial law troops to the election commission and suspicions of election fraud within some ruling party circles, saying, "If we sympathize with election fraud conspiracy theorists or extremists like certain YouTubers or are consumed by commercially produced fear, there will be no future for conservatism."
Regarding Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader and a leading opposition presidential candidate, and the Democratic Party, Han said, "Just because martial law was wrong does not justify the reckless and criminal acts of the Democratic Party and Lee Jae-myung," emphasizing, "The timer on Lee's trial is still running. Not much time is left."
People Power Party to soon transition to emergency committee system... internal strife continues
Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party, is leaving after announcing his intention to resign as party leader at the National Assembly on the 16th. On the right is Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
With Han's resignation, the People Power Party will face its fifth emergency committee since the launch of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. Lee Heon-seung, who is already serving as the party's national committee chairman, declared the day before that he would proceed with the appointment process for the emergency committee chairperson. This is interpreted as a move to manage the party and field a candidate as the opposition begins to prepare for the possibility of an early presidential election. The People Power Party will hold a party meeting at 3 p.m. at the National Assembly to discuss internal recovery measures and the appointment of the emergency committee chairperson. Before the meeting, senior lawmakers with four terms will hold a meeting at 11 a.m. to discuss recovery plans.
Although the transition to the emergency committee system is accelerating, internal strife within the People Power Party is expected to continue. The pro-Yoon faction, which insisted on a party line opposing the impeachment motion, and the mainstream faction including Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) and senior lawmakers are demanding that Han and the lawmakers who voted for impeachment resign from the party. There are voices calling for expelling at least 12 lawmakers who voted in favor, even if the constitutional amendment blocking line (100 members) collapses. If Han, still a leading presidential candidate within the ruling party, enters the presidential race, party conflicts are expected to intensify further.
On the other hand, some pro-Han faction members and non-parliamentary figures are dismissing these remarks as a "people's trial." Shin Ji-ho, the party's deputy head of organization, said on MBC Radio that morning, "It is a people's trial, a 'Gaeddal totalitarian' appearance. Simply framing it as betrayal goes against the constitutional spirit and National Assembly law," criticizing, "The president made the mistake, but the party leader is being blamed." Lee Jong-cheol, the People Power Party's Seongbuk-gu (Gap) district committee chairman, posted on his social media, "People Power Party lawmakers should refrain from criticizing Leader Han. He should not be disgraced," adding, "Do they not realize that Han's actions on the day of emergency martial law saved conservatism? Do they not understand that thanks to Han's leadership over the past two weeks, there is still a faint hope for conservatism to stand again?"
Some are calling for restraint in statements that cause confusion to help the party recover. Yoon Sang-hyun, who has strongly opposed the impeachment motion and the expulsion or withdrawal of President Yoon from the party, wrote on social media that day, "We all should reflect on ourselves as accomplices to the impeachment since we failed to stop it, but stigmatizing and branding those who voted for impeachment as accomplices contradicts the conservative values we uphold," urging restraint, "Just as we cannot erase President Yoon, the impeachment-supporting lawmakers are comrades we cannot erase from our hearts."
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