Han Donghoon on Insurrection Special Act: "People Power Party Also Stopped Martial Law... Will Not Stand Idly By"

"People Power Party Lawmakers Also Participated in Blocking Martial Law"
"People Power Party Must Undergo Strong Renewal and Reflection"

Han Donghoon, former leader of the People Power Party, criticized the Democratic Party of Korea for introducing the so-called "Special Act on Ending Insurrection," which seeks to halt state subsidies to parties that have produced insurrectionists. He stated, "We will not stand idly by in the face of such unreasonable actions." On the 10th, Han wrote on social media, "The Democratic Party has introduced a special bill targeting the People Power Party, aiming to cut off state subsidies to any party that has produced insurrectionists."

Hanjong Han, former leader of the People Power Party. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

Previously, on the 8th, lawmaker Park Chandae, who is running for the Democratic Party's leadership, said, "Taxpayer money must be used solely for the people. We cannot provide state subsidies to parties that have destroyed constitutional order," as he introduced the special insurrection bill. The bill includes provisions for reducing criminal penalties for military and police personnel who voluntarily confess or reveal the truth about insurrection, establishing a special tribunal for insurrection trials, restricting pardons and reinstatements for insurrectionists, revising personnel measures for those who distort or entrench insurrectionist figures, and blocking state subsidies to parties that have produced insurrectionists.

In response, Han stated, "Former President Yoon Sukyeol's 12·3 Martial Law was a grave crime that was both unconstitutional and illegal," adding, "On that night, I did not act as 'Han Donghoon the individual,' but as 'Han Donghoon, leader of the People Power Party,' and I risked my life to take the lead in stopping the martial law, more actively and earlier than any Democratic Party politician." He continued, "As the party leader, not as an individual, I took the lead in passing the impeachment of the president to hold him accountable for martial law, even though it put my political career at risk and caused me great hardship."

He also said, "On that day, nearly 20 People Power Party lawmakers, local party heads, party officials, aides, and members stood with me and threw themselves into blocking martial law, overcoming uncertainty and fear. Even at this very moment, they are steadfastly defending the People Power Party," adding, "That is the true spirit of our party."

Furthermore, he stated, "Our People Power Party must cross the sea of martial law and impeachment that we have not yet overcome, through strong renewal and reflection," and, "Anyone who led or participated in the crime must be held strictly accountable, regardless of their position or rank." Finally, Han said, "However, it is wrong for the Democratic Party to try to lump our party and its members together under a 'guilt by association' framework with such a transparently motivated special law," emphasizing, "Our party is also the party that stopped martial law. We will not stand idly by in the face of the Democratic Party's unreasonable actions."