With 'Proportional Factional Strife' Resolved... Han Dong-hoon Faces Test in Managing Intra-Party Conflict

People's Future, Proportional Representation Candidate Order Reassigned
Honam's Jo Baesuk No. 13 · Party Official Lee Dalhee 23→17
"Not an Explosive Change" Controversy Over Rigging Continues

The People Power Party's satellite proportional representation party, People’s Future, finalized the order of proportional representation candidates on the 21st after adjusting the sequence. Earlier, some rearrangement was made in response to criticisms about insufficient consideration for Honam politicians and party officials. However, Han Dong-hoon, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, along with Han Ji-a and Kim Ye-ji who led the emergency committee, remain unchanged, and there are ongoing rumors of 'sacheon' (secret nomination) controversies, with figures who contributed to President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol’s victory being excluded from nominations. Chairman Han, who resolved conflicts with the presidential office through 'Lee Jong-seop’s return' and 'Hwang Sang-moo’s resignation,' is now facing a test to reconcile internal party conflicts.

Handonghun, the General Election Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the 22nd National Assembly Election Central Election Committee and the candidate nomination meeting held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 19th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

People’s Future announced the second proportional representation list the day before. After a meeting lasting over six hours at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, the list was finalized. Kang Se-won, former administrative officer at the Presidential Office’s Legal Secretary Office, who had previously been nominated at number 13, was moved to number 21. In Kang’s place, Cho Bae-sook, former Jeonbuk Provincial Party Chair from Honam, who was not on the first list, was included. The 17th position, previously held by Lee Si-woo, former secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office whose nomination was canceled due to golf entertainment allegations, was replaced by Lee Dal-hee, former Deputy Governor of North Gyeongsang Province. Lee Dal-hee had been placed at number 23 on the first list.

The second proportional representation list partially accepted issues raised earlier by the pro-Yoon faction. Lee Cheol-gyu, chairman of the People Power Party’s Talent Recruitment Committee, was the first to raise concerns on his Facebook on the 18th. At a press conference the day before, he expressed suspicion about Chairman Han’s secret nomination controversy, stating that the proportional representation nomination process was not transparently disclosed.

Lee Cheol-gyu, a member of the People Power Party, is briefing on current issues at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 20th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

With People’s Future revising the proportional representation list, the conflict appears to be superficially resolved. In particular, the theory of neglecting Honam was immediately quelled by placing former Chair Cho in a winning position. Jeong Un-cheon, a candidate running in Jeonju Eul, Jeonbuk, said in a phone interview that day, "It is a relief amid misfortune," adding, "I see this as a response to the issues we raised and will focus on the election campaign."

However, dissatisfaction with the proportional representation nominations continues behind the scenes. Still, with only about 20 days left until the election, there is a mood to avoid 'family quarrels.' A ruling party official said, "It is a lie that Chairman Han did not put in his own people," adding, "For now, it seems necessary to organize and move forward." Another official added, "We need to make small concessions and reach compromises."

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