Han: "Preserving Vested Interests Beyond Defeatism"
On the 'Traitor Frame': "I Would Stop My Father Even If He Declared Martial Law"
Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon on the 14th claimed that the movement within the party to propose Han Deok-soo, the Acting President and Prime Minister, as a presidential candidate is "an act of violation."
On the same day, during an appearance on SBS Radio, when the host mentioned that some party members had tried to urge Acting President Han to run through a petition over the weekend, Han said, "We need to focus the public's attention on the process of selecting our party's candidate, but all the media are saying 'We are supporting Prime Minister Han Deok-soo,'" adding, "This kind of action that dampens the enthusiasm of the primary is itself an act of violation."
Han believes that the background of the call for Acting President Han's presidential candidacy lies in "the preservation of vested interests beyond defeatism." He criticized, "This goes beyond defeatism of 'we can't win.' It's not about wanting victory but about wanting to preserve vested interests." Kwon Young-se, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, also drew a line at the National Assembly emergency committee meeting that day, saying, "There will be no act of endorsing a specific person or causing disadvantage to anyone."
Regarding the speculation that Acting President Han might run as an independent and unify with the People Power Party candidate, Han said, "(Acting President Han) had the opportunity to participate in the primary but would not choose the trick of unifying later with the candidate selected by our party," and questioned, "That would be strange to anyone. Who would agree to that?" He added, "However, there are vested interest groups around him encouraging that. This is a big problem for our party and an expression of defeatism. Is it that they have no intention to win?"
Handonghun, former leader of the People Power Party, is declaring his candidacy for the presidential election in front of the National Assembly fountain on April 10, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Regarding the declaration of non-participation in the presidential primary by figures classified as potential candidates such as Mayor Oh Se-hoon and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, Han criticized, "Because of the movements of vested interest groups within the party, moderate and reasonable supporters and those who could persuade them are giving up in the middle. If this continues, only those who want to preserve their positions will represent and remain in our party. This must not happen."
On former President Yoon Seok-youl's remark to supporters he met at his residence, saying, "I came back having won, so don't worry," Han said, "The public probably did not view that favorably," and urged, "Including the President, we all need to make choices to win." Regarding the 'traitor frame' raised within the party, he said, "I would stop my father even if he declared illegal martial law," emphasizing, "Even if it breaks my heart, a democrat would stop illegal martial law, wouldn't they?"
Regarding reform within the People Power Party, Han said, "If I become the presidential candidate and show a new image, it will symbolize our party's reform and renewal," and pointed out, "The Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung will ask, 'What did you do during martial law?' I am the only one left who can prevent that. Other candidates run away when that question comes up."
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