Handonghun Visits Gwangju... "Succession if Proportional Guilt Confirmed, Against Constitutional Spirit"

"Criminals relay succession... against constitutional spirit"
Regarding Do Tae-woo's nomination cancellation, "other issues mentioned"
No major clashes, but some citizens say "Han Dong-hoon step down"

Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, who visited Gwangju, argued that succession by a proportional representation lawmaker whose guilt is confirmed is against the spirit of the Constitution. Regarding the cancellation of the nomination of lawyer Do Tae-woo, who was embroiled in controversy over belittling the May 18 Democratic Movement, he stated that it was an inevitable decision as other issues kept arising.

People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon is speaking at a meeting with tenant companies held on the afternoon of the 15th at the Gwangju Real Content Cube (GCC) in Nam-gu, Gwangju. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 15th, Chairman Han met with reporters at the Gwangju Real Content Cube in Nam-gu, Gwangju, and said, "There is a person whose conviction in the third trial is almost certain, and it is obvious that the next person will succeed him," adding, "That is rather against the spirit of the Constitution. Is it the spirit of the Constitution for lawbreakers to successively inherit parliamentary seats like a relay, receive salaries, and enjoy privileges?" The day before, when Chairman Han pledged to legislate a ban on succession if a proportional representation lawmaker is confirmed guilty, Cho Guk, leader of the Cho Guk Innovation Party, rebutted by saying, "Proportional representation seats belong not to individual lawmakers but to the party," and "The possibility of passage is zero."

Chairman Han claimed that it was difficult to maintain lawyer Do's nomination. Lawyer Do issued two apologies over the controversy of belittling the May 18 Democratic Movement but continued to make inappropriate remarks about former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in. The day before, the People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee canceled Do's nomination. Chairman Han said, "If there is reflection, even if one held a wrong position during a certain period in the past, I think our party can accept it," but added, "The committee's judgment was that it is difficult to maintain the nomination as other issues were raised. I agree with that." Regarding criticism that the committee's verification was insufficient, he responded, "When managing nominations, sometimes such problems cannot be properly checked," and said, "Please apply the same standards to the Democratic Party."

He also reaffirmed the intention to include the May 18 Democratic Movement in the preamble of the Constitution. On the 13th, Kim Boo-kyum, the Standing Co-Chairman of the Democratic Party's election campaign committee, argued at the Yeouido Central Party Office that both ruling and opposition parties should jointly pledge to include the spirit of May 18 in the constitutional preamble. Chairman Han said, "Our position is clear regarding the inclusion of the May 18 spirit in the constitutional preamble," adding, "It is not something that Chairman Kim needs to specially mention."

Following this, Chairman Han met with citizens along with local candidates in Dong-gu, Gwangju, at Chungjang-ro. Leader Cho also visited Chungjang-ro the previous day. About 100 citizens gathered at Chungjang-ro, cheering for Chairman Han with slogans such as "Han Dong-hoon fighting." Chairman Han appealed for support from the citizens and took selfies with them. Although there were no major clashes, some citizens shouted slogans like "Han Dong-hoon step down" and "Impeach Yoon Seok-yeol."

Chairman Han said, "I want to receive the choice of Honam and Gwangju. That is why I presented good candidates like Park Eun-sik and Yang Jeong-ha," adding, "It is not a matter of ideology but a matter of choosing between forces that want to regress South Korea and those that want to advance it. I will definitely block forces like Cho Guk, Lee Jae-myung, and remnants of the Unified Progressive Party." He also stated, "I came prepared to be neglected in Gwangju and Honam," and "The goal is one: to protect the honor of Gwangju citizens and improve their lives."

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