Text Message Sent to Kim Kyung-yul of the "Han Dong-hoon Emergency Committee"
Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, who had been laying low since his resignation on the 16th of last month, is gradually resuming his activities. Some quarters have predicted that Han’s comeback is entering the “final countdown.”
On the 24th, Assemblyman Jin Jong-oh, who was known to have left the “pro-Han faction,” fueled the comeback rumors by posting a photo with Han, saying, “I will go together.”
On the same day, Assemblyman Jin posted a photo on Facebook showing him standing shoulder to shoulder with Han and wrote, “I will also think only of the country and go together.” The phrase “think only of the country” is an expression Han often uses.
It is known that the two had lunch together at a location in Seoul that day. Han reportedly encouraged him by saying, “Don’t be discouraged. Since the people are in a state of confusion, let’s firmly pull ourselves together.”
Since stepping down from his position on the 16th of last month, Han has refrained from public appearances. However, since the beginning of this month, sightings of Han have occasionally been posted on the online fan cafe “Withhooni.” A photo of Han visiting a cafe in Gangnam, Seoul, was posted on the 6th, and on the 24th, a photo of him dining with acquaintances at a restaurant was shared.
People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon is moving after announcing his resignation from the party leadership position at a press conference held at the National Assembly on the morning of December 16. Photo by Yonhap News
During his hiatus, Han is known to have met with experts in artificial intelligence (AI) and welfare policy fields and read several related books. In political circles, there is an interpretation that Han has been studying policies with the presidential election in mind.
Statements from people close to Han also indicate that his return is near. Shin Ji-ho, former Vice President of Strategic Planning and a member of the pro-Han faction, said on TV Chosun’s YouTube channel, “Han has never given up on politics or declared retirement; he is just taking a short break,” adding, “If an early presidential election is confirmed, I believe Han will participate in the primaries.”
Kim Kyung-yul, a former emergency committee member who was part of the “Han Dong-hoon Emergency Committee,” made similar remarks. On the 23rd, he appeared on CBS Radio and said, “Today, Han sent me a text saying, ‘Are you doing well?’” and added, “I got the feeling that he is deeply contemplating.”
Han’s supporters have shown their support by putting up banners. Earlier this month, banners with messages such as “Han Dong-hoon who stopped martial law, Han Dong-hoon sincere to the people” and “Top politician in lifting martial law, Han Dong-hoon” were displayed, but just before the Lunar New Year holiday, the messages were changed to “Han Dong-hoon! Hope for conservative innovation and political reform” and “With Han Dong-hoon, South Korea is on the rise.”
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