Opposition Innovation Faction's Principle and Common Sense: "Han Dong-hoon Should Resign as Minister and Campaign"

The 'Principles and Common Sense' group, consisting of non-mainstream and reformist members of the Democratic Party of Korea, has called on Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon to "comply with the Public Official Election Act while campaigning" and urged him to resign.

Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Jong-min, Yoon Young-chan, and Cho Eung-cheon of Principles and Common Sense issued a statement titled "Advice to Political Novice Minister Han" on social media on the 24th, saying, "We hope you step down from your ministerial position and campaign freely while abiding by the Public Official Election Act."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

They said, "We do not expect you to maintain political neutrality as a current cabinet member and minister. However, we sincerely advise you to campaign while complying with the Public Official Election Act," adding, "The preliminary candidate registration period is approaching soon. We hope you resign from your ministerial post immediately."

Minister Han has been visiting Daegu, Daejeon, Ulsan, and other locations for policy-related schedules, but some in the political sphere view this as de facto pre-election campaigning.

Principles and Common Sense also holds the view that Minister Han's actions are close to pre-election campaigning. They said, "Is it because the electoral district has not been finalized? There should be no need to worry about party nominations, yet he is courting voters nationwide day after day in Daegu, Daejeon, Ulsan, and elsewhere," adding, "His political activities using the ministerial position are dangerously close to violating the Public Official Election Act by engaging in pre-election campaigning using public office."

They further pointed out, "Several political newcomers who once received the spotlight in other fields ended up being tried for violations of the Public Official Election Act as soon as they entered Yeouido, and were forgotten without being able to properly carry out legislative activities," and criticized, "Minister Han's recent actions reveal a noticeable impatience as the general election clock ticks, which is almost pitiful."

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