Jeon Han-gil's Admission to People Power Party Sparks Controversy... Kim Yong-tae Calls It "Pseudo-Conservative," Ahn Cheol-soo Says "Embarrassing"

Kim Yongtae and Ahn Cheolsoo Voice Strong Opposition Within the Party
Calls Grow to Reject Jeon Hangil's Membership Over Far-Right Ties

Controversy is mounting within the People Power Party over the admission of Jeon Han-gil, a far-right Korean history instructor, into the party. Kim Yong-tae, a former emergency committee chair, insisted, "His admission should be immediately rejected," while Jeong Jeom-sik, Secretary-General of the People Power Party, stated, "There is no system in place to refuse party membership."

Korean history instructor Han Gil Jeon is entering the "Citizens Protecting Citizens! National Investigation Unit Launch Ceremony" held on the 16th at the International Conference Hall of the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

On the morning of July 17, Secretary-General Jeong met with reporters at the National Assembly and confirmed that Jeon had completed his admission to the party, saying, "He joined during Kim Yong-tae's tenure as emergency committee chair on June 9. We have no concrete way to verify online party admissions."

Previously, on July 14, Jeon announced at the launch ceremony of the Reset Korea National Movement Headquarters, an event supporting former President Yoon Suk-yeol, "I am making this official. I, too, have joined the People Power Party," adding, "Some may think, 'Is Jeon Han-gil trying to run for the National Assembly?' but that is not the case."

After news of Jeon's application became public, Representative Kim Yong-tae wrote on Facebook, "The People Power Party should not allow Jeon Han-gil and other supporters of martial law to join," and urged, "The party leadership must convene the party membership qualification review committee in accordance with the party constitution and regulations, and make a decisive move to ensure that such individuals do not come near the People Power Party."

Representative Kim criticized, "The People Power Party is a healthy conservative party that upholds the spirit of the Constitution. Our party must sever ties with extremist groups who defend martial law while invoking former President Yoon Suk-yeol and the so-called 'Enlightenment Decree.' These people are not conservatives, but pseudo-conservatives."

He continued, "I hope Song Eon-seok, emergency committee chair and floor leader, will immediately reject the admission of martial law supporters," adding, "Party reform and normalization are impossible without severing ties with anti-constitutional forces."

An Cheol-soo, another People Power Party lawmaker, also wrote on Facebook the previous day, "Now that former President Yoon is gone, are you trying to bring in a YouTube instructor to create a 'Chingil' faction?"

Representative An criticized, "Are you planning to completely sink the party by appointing a Chingil party leader and a Chingil floor leader, turning it into a rebellion party, a martial law party, or a Yoon Again party?" and added, "If you want to honor the spirit of former President Yoon so much, please hold an event in front of Seoul Detention Center. How long will you continue to embarrass party members and conservative citizens?"