Ha Tae-kyung: "Han Dong-hoon is the trend... Expecting candid advice to the president and generational change"

'Handonghun Emergency Committee' to Launch as Early as Next Week
"Close Ties with President Yoon Allow Candid Criticism"
"A Wind of Generational Change Expected Within the Party"

On the 21st, Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, commented on the strong likelihood of Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, becoming the emergency response committee chairman, saying, "The party atmosphere is forming around Han Dong-hoon as the dominant choice," and added, "It is practically 100% decided already. It doesn't seem like a situation to consider another 'second choice.'"

Appearing on KBS's special radio program 'Special 1 Radio Today' that day, Ha said, "I was worried that Minister Han might be hesitating considerably about stepping up as the emergency committee chairman, but he himself has thought deeply and expressed a strong will," and continued, "Since he has chosen to take the path of 'high risk high return,' in such a situation, we have no choice but to endorse him."

Some express concerns that if Minister Han becomes the emergency committee chairman, the vertical party-government relationship might be further strengthened. Regarding this, Ha said, "Minister Han once said himself, 'The Yeouido (political district) way of speaking seems somewhat different from the people's way. I will not use Yeouido dialect but the people's standard language,'" and added, "If he carries out the emergency committee chairman role with that mindset, I believe he will succeed."

He continued, "The President also said, 'The people are always right,' and when the President moves in a direction different from the people's wishes and public sentiment, he must be able to face and say even the unpleasant truths," and said, "Among current ministers, Minister Han has the longest and closest relationship with the President, so he can comfortably speak frankly."

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is entering the National Assembly on the 20th to attend the full meeting of the Budget and Accounts Committee. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

He also emphasized the need to avoid repeating the mistakes and errors of previous party leaders. Ha criticized, "If you only clash with the President by speaking frankly, the party-government relationship becomes chaotic. The important ability of a leader is to make frank words effective," and added, "During Lee Jun-seok's leadership, the party-government clashed; under Kim Ki-hyun, they failed to speak frankly when needed and could not persuade the President, leading to a collapse together. This resulted in the worst outcome with both party and presidential approval ratings falling."

Ha predicted that Minister Han would also influence generational change within the party. He said, "Naturally, a wind of generational change will blow within the party," and added, "Minister Han was born in the 1970s. New emergency committee members will also join, and I hope they are all born in the 1970s or later. I hope to show a younger and fresh leadership, presenting a new image of our party. For the party to transform into one that better represents future generations, I hope Minister Han will take the lead in political generational change within the party."

The People Power Party appears to have effectively reached a consensus on nominating Minister Han as the emergency committee chairman. Minister Han, who had been reserved about entering politics, hinted on the 19th at the National Assembly during a meeting with reporters that he would accept the offer if proposed, responding to a question about criticisms of his lack of political experience by saying, "No path in the world was a path at first. When many people walk together, it becomes a path."

Ha projected that the 'Han Dong-hoon emergency committee' could be launched as early as next week. After Yoon Jae-ok, acting party leader and floor leader, nominates the emergency committee chairman candidate, the appointment will be finalized through approval by the party's Supreme Council and the National Committee.

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