Han Seon-kyo: "Hwang Kyo-ahn demanded proportional representation nominations for Park Jin and Park Hyung-joon"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Former Future Korea Party leader Han Seon-kyo revealed on the 20th that Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, demanded the nomination of former lawmaker Park Jin and former Innovation and Integration Promotion Committee Chairman Park Hyung-joon.

In a phone call with Yonhap News on the same day, former leader Han confirmed that Hwang requested the proportional representation nomination of former lawmaker Park by saying, "Yes," and added, "The same goes for former Chairman Park." Han said, "I am saying this as a warning because it seems the United Future Party will continue to commit outrages," and added, "Everything will be revealed later."

Earlier, Gong Byung-ho, chairman of the Future Korea Party's nomination committee, stated on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' in the morning that "former leader Han was asked to nominate former lawmaker Park and former Chairman Park." However, regarding whether the requester was Hwang, he refrained from confirming, saying "It has not been confirmed," but Han's statement revealed that the requester was indeed Hwang.

Former leader Han resigned after the proportional representation candidate recommendation plan was rejected in the election panel vote the day before, saying, "Reform was blocked by corrupt power." Although he resigned voluntarily, many view it as a dismissal due to a vote of no confidence from the mother party, the United Future Party. In particular, Hwang made strong remarks at the Supreme Council meeting, saying, "We must break away from old-fashioned politics." Han's late revelation that Hwang requested the nomination suggests that there was a conflict over nominations with Hwang behind his resignation.

At a press conference upon his resignation the day before, former leader Han said, "My intention to serve the party and the country and leave a good legacy at the end of my political career was blocked by truly ridiculous people," and sharply criticized the internal party conflict forces, saying, "With the power of the opposition party that is less than a handful, corrupt power blocked my reform."

When reporters asked if the "ridiculous people" referred to Hwang, he replied, "No," but it seems he showed some resentment toward Hwang. The day before, Hwang also targeted former leader Han in a Facebook post, saying, "Breaking promises tramples on human dignity. Watching politicians easily break promises, I vow to myself to make promises as heavy as rocks and as humble as wild grass."

With the revelation that Hwang requested candidate nominations from former leader Han, controversy over possible violations of election laws is expected to intensify. Shim Sang-jung, co-chair of the Justice Party's election committee, stated on the 19th that the major adjustment of the Future Korea Party's proportional representation order was "a clear case of Hwang interfering in the puppet party Future Korea Party's nominations," and expressed her intention to file a complaint with the prosecution. The Protestant civic group Peace Tree also filed an additional complaint with the National Election Commission, accusing Hwang of interfering in another party's nominations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.