Both Ruling and Opposition Parties Negative on Predictions of 'Kim Gi-hyeon Ousted and Han Dong-hoon Emergency Committee'

"Korea, Prosecutor Frame Too Strong to Be Emergency Committee Chair"
"Ruling Party Approval Rating Rises... Kim Gi-hyeon Unlikely to Be Dismissed"

Former leader Lee Jun-seok's prediction regarding the dismissal of Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, and the possibility of appointing Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon as the emergency committee chairman was dismissed by both ruling and opposition parties as an interpretation with no feasibility.

Earlier, on the 15th, former leader Lee stated on BBS Radio, "Within 1 to 2 weeks, Kim Ki-hyun's position will be settled," adding, "Then, among the elderly conservative base, there is a possibility that they will push the narrative, 'Since Minister Han Dong-hoon has been fighting vigorously recently, we should appoint him as the emergency committee chairman.'

Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won also made a similar forecast to former leader Lee. On the 16th, Park said on CBS Radio, "Innoh Han's term as Innovation Committee Chairman ends at the end of December, after which Kim Ki-hyun will take responsibility and step down, and then an emergency committee will be formed," mentioning that the emergency committee chairman "will be Minister Han Dong-hoon."

He added, "If the emergency committee were reasonable, Minister Won Hee-ryong of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport would take the role, but now Minister Won is being told to go to Jeju," predicting that Minister Han would take the emergency committee chairman position and run in the general election either in the Seoul Gangnam area, a stronghold of the People Power Party, or as a proportional representative.

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is delivering the opening remarks at the Ministry of Justice-International Criminal Court (ICC) High-Level Joint Seminar held at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 14th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Regarding these forecasts, both ruling and opposition parties responded that they are not feasible. People Power Party lawmaker Hong Seok-jun appeared on YTN News & Issue and said, "It seems that Minister Han Dong-hoon is currently leaning more towards running in the general election. But does that mean he will immediately become the emergency committee chairman?" adding, "He not only lacks understanding of politics but also is unfamiliar with the political situation and people, and the party would not appoint him as the emergency committee chairman, but even if they did, there is no need for Minister Han to take the role."

Lawmaker Hong also said, "To become the emergency committee chairman, one should have relatively more centrist appeal," adding, "Objectively speaking, Minister Han Dong-hoon has a prosecutor background frame, so it is unclear whether he has an expansion area.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Han-gyu also said on the same broadcast, "It is true that Minister Han receives considerable support from conservatives, so he might serve as the election countermeasure committee chairman or co-chairman," but added, "I don't think the party leader will be replaced within 1 to 2 weeks."

Lawmaker Kim continued, "If Kim Ki-hyun were to resign after the Gangseo District Office election, that might be different, but recently the People Power Party's approval ratings have been rising," adding, "Suddenly ousting the party leader does not seem appropriate."

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