"Any Sacrifice" Won Hee-ryong Hints at Running in Difficult District... Han Dong-hoon Too?

Oh Shin-hwan "Sacrifice for the Party Will Inspire"
Kim Woong "Even If Criticized, First Aim for the Gangnam 3 Districts"

With the strong speculation about Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, running in next year's general election, attention is also focused on the movements of Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, as Won hints at running in a challenging district.

Earlier, on the 21st, after attending the 'Special Act on the Maintenance of Aging Planned Cities' meeting hosted by the People Power Party at the National Assembly, Minister Won told reporters, "If I have to run in the general election, and if it is necessary for the people and the party, I believe I must actively take on any challenge and sacrifice."

Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is speaking at a residents' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 21st to urge the passage of the Special Act on the Maintenance of Aging Planned Cities within the year. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

As he is still a cabinet member required to maintain political neutrality, he did not specify the timing or location of his candidacy. However, it is known that Minister Won told those around him, "If I run, I want to face the toughest opponent in the most difficult district," expressing his willingness to take on "challenge and sacrifice." This has increased speculation about his possible candidacy in Incheon Gyeyang-eul, the constituency of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

In-yo Han, the Innovation Committee Chairman who has emphasized the need for key party figures to run in difficult districts or to refrain from running, responded by saying, "I am moved to tears with gratitude." After a lecture held at KAIST in Daejeon that day, Chairman In told reporters, "He is truly a wonderful person," and added, "I think it is positive that ministers are starting to consider this little by little."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the biggest point of interest is which district Han Dong-hoon, whose candidacy for the general election has become more visible, will run in. As rumors of Minister Han's entry into the election spread, inside and outside the party, his possible constituencies are widely discussed, including Daegu and Gyeongbuk (TK), Seoul Gangnam?strongholds of the People Power Party?and even proportional representation.

There are also voices calling for Minister Han to run in a challenging district. Oh Shin-hwan, Innovation Committee member of the People Power Party, praised Minister Won's sacrifice and said, "I hope the party will be more proactive in accepting various requests for running in difficult districts or sacrifices that we are politely asking for."

On the 22nd, on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' Committee member Oh said, "If it is not an easy-to-approach place, but a place where he makes some sacrifice and breaks through, wouldn't the people be moved?" He added, "Considering Minister Han's competitiveness, if he goes to a somewhat difficult district rather than an easy one and plays a role in leading the party's overall victory, the synergy and ripple effect could be greater."

On the other hand, Kim Woong, a People Power Party lawmaker, predicted that Minister Han would run in the Gangnam 3 districts. On CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Kim said, "If he runs as a proportional representative or in Daegu, it would be more serious," adding, "Because then our party would become a kind of Crown Prince Party."

He continued, "The chances of winning in a difficult district are very low. Would breaking through be that easy? He must get the (National Assembly) badge," and said, "Minister Han is a very important talent for our party, but rather than sending him off as a private citizen, it is right for him to start in the Gangnam 3 districts, even if he initially faces criticism and backlash."

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