Kim Jonghyuk: "Discouraging Han Donghoon from Running... Why Engage in Wasteful Conflict Over 'Yoon Again'?"

Ahead of the August Party Convention, Internal Strife Deepens Within the People Power Party
Kim Jonghyuk: "Those Unwilling to Sever Ties with Yoon Dominate the Party"
"Even If Han Donghoon Runs, Last Year's Year-End Situation Will Repeat"

Kim Jonghyuk, former Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party and considered part of the pro-Han Donghoon faction, revealed that he is discouraging former leader Han Donghoon from running for party leader. In an interview on MBC Radio's "Kim Jongbae's Focus" on the 21st, Kim said, "At first, I encouraged him to run, thinking that we needed to quickly overcome the aftereffects of the presidential election defeat and regroup against the Lee Jaemyung administration."

Kim Jonghyuk, former Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Asia Economy

Kim continued, "But as I watched how the party operated, I saw that people with a 'Yoon (Yoon Sukyeol) Again' mindset were filling the Emergency Response Committee, and those who had no intention of severing ties with former President Yoon Sukyeol were still dominating the party. I got the sense that even if Han became party leader, the incidents that happened at the end of last year would repeat themselves?no matter what the leader does, there would be constant backstabbing, attacks, and internal strife." He added, "I started to wonder if there was any need to continue with such a wasteful situation."

However, he also noted, "On the other side, Jun Hangil and former presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo have declared their candidacies, and there are concerns that the party leadership race could turn into a 'far-right festival.' Some people are urging former leader Han to run, saying, 'Don't worry about anything else, just run to prevent that from happening.'" Regarding Jun, he said, "Since he joined the party in June, he will only gain the rights of a full member after three months," but added, "If the Emergency Response Committee pushes through and decides to give him a chance to run, it will cause serious aftereffects."

According to Kim, during the previously reported meeting between former leader Han and lawmaker Ahn Cheolsoo, there were discussions that "the party must not become radicalized to the far right" and "must not be swayed by those who claim election fraud." However, he drew a line, saying, "The issue of coordinating candidates was not discussed." Regarding Cho Kyungtae, a lawmaker known as a pro-Han candidate, Kim said, "He is a six-term lawmaker and has his own political ambitions, so it's clear that he is with us in the big picture," but added, "As far as I know, he has not discussed specific matters with us or with former leader Han."

Previously, the People Power Party's Ethics Committee reportedly began disciplinary procedures against Kim on the 17th. The Ethics Committee explained the reasons for the disciplinary action as "acts such as criticizing the party's presidential candidate on personal social media and broadcasts, fueling factional conflict, and raising suspicions about party opinion polls, which are seen as causing internal division and damaging the party's reputation." The committee is expected to discuss whether to impose disciplinary action in September.

In response, Kim said, "Apparently, after the presidential election, someone sent an anonymous letter, and more than a month after the election, they started disciplinary procedures against a former Supreme Council Member. It seemed so unrealistic that I was shocked," adding, "It makes me suspect that this is a kind of warning or an attempt to silence people known as pro-Han."