[Jeongguk Spotlight] Han Dong-hoon, Author of New Book, to Begin Public Activities Next Week... Criticizing Lee and Embracing Banhan

Through His Book 'The People Come First'
Plans for Book Concerts and Nationwide Lectures
Effectively Declaring a Presidential Bid
Explaining Opposition to Martial Law and Support for Impeachment
Expected to Offer Sincere Apology to Yoon's Supporters
A Strategy to Win Party Support, Appeal to Moderates, and Counter Lee Jaemyung

Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon is set to resume his political activities as early as the beginning of next week, using his book Han Dong-hoon's Choice - The People Come First as a medium. Since the book reveals the events, emotions, and policy vision he experienced over 14 days?including the December 3 emergency martial law incident, the passage of the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol, and his resignation as party leader?he plans to disclose detailed circumstances, his convictions at the time, and his decision to run for president through book concerts and lectures. This is interpreted as a strategy to reverse the current situation where, despite having been the top candidate for the ruling party in various past polls, he has fallen behind Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo after President Yoon’s impeachment trial.

On the 26th, a close associate of Han said, "Former leader Han is scheduled to resume his political activities next week," adding, "He is currently planning various formats such as book concerts and nationwide lecture tours, but the venues and specific dates have not yet been finalized." According to this source, Han is expected to spend this week, when the book was published, observing the reactions of readers, the media, and the political sphere.

Through book concerts and lectures, Han is expected to urge People Power Party lawmakers to lift the emergency martial law and emphasize that the efforts to pass the impeachment motion against President Yoon were to defend conservative values such as democracy and republicanism, appealing that he is the suitable candidate for the party’s next presidential nomination. In his book, Han criticized President Yoon’s side’s defense that the December 3 emergency martial law was for enlightenment and a public appeal, stating, "The December 3 emergency martial law was an insult and challenge to the democracy and republicanism of the Republic of Korea. I have believed that the true spirit of conservatism is a responsibility that prioritizes protecting democracy and republicanism over factional interests."

At the same time, he is expected to reveal his thoughts and reflections from the time between the December 3 emergency martial law incident and his resignation as party leader, and to try to win back the hearts of the hardline People Power Party supporters who became more radical during President Yoon’s impeachment trial. In a dialogue with a journalist in the latter part of his book, Han said, "I deeply understand their (President Yoon’s hardline supporters’) feelings. I sincerely apologize to those who were hurt by the impeachment." Reflecting on his feelings when pushing for President Yoon’s impeachment, he recalled, "(President Yoon) was someone who knew how to focus on work with a public-minded attitude," adding, "That is why I had to take the lead in blocking the president’s emergency martial law and had no choice but to push for impeachment, which was truly painful for me."

In particular, Han is expected to strongly criticize Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is leading in various polls as the next presidential candidate, while explaining why he should be president himself, appealing also to moderate voters. In his book, Han named Lee as the most dangerous figure in Korea and predicted that if Lee became president, he would impose martial law to prevent the sentencing of his criminal trial. In response, when Lee posted on his Facebook the day before, saying, "Only a dog sees what it wants to see," Han immediately replied on Facebook, "I am willing to be a dog that protects the people. Have a good trial," engaging in a verbal exchange.