Han Dong-hoon Signals Bid for Party Leadership, Warms Up Amidst Confrontation with Government

"Consider KC Certification When Buying Overseas Direct" Direct Hit
Growing Calls for Involvement Inside and Outside the Party
Appeal to 3040 Generation, Differentiation from Yoon

Within the ruling party, there are talks that Han Dong-hoon, former emergency committee member of the People Power Party, has fired the starting signal for his next party leadership bid. This is because he posted a criticism of the government's overseas direct purchase regulation plan on the night of the 18th. On that day, he wrote on his social media service (SNS), "If KC certification is made mandatory for individual overseas direct purchases as the government announced, the scope and method of application will be ambiguous and excessively broad, resulting in excessive regulation," adding, "It excessively restricts consumer choice and therefore needs to be reconsidered."

The government announced on the 16th a plan to completely ban overseas direct purchases of 80 items, including strollers, toys, and heated mats, unless they have the National Certification Integrated Mark (KC). However, facing growing criticism, it effectively withdrew the plan three days later by stating, "It is not a complete ban." Besides former committee member Han, Na Kyung-won, the party nominee, and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min also expressed opposition to the government policy.

Handonghun, Emergency Response Headquarters Chief of the People Power Party, is expressing his position on the general election defeat at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 11th. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

Han’s recent message directly contradicted the policies of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, leading to interpretations within the ruling party that Han has effectively decided to run in the party convention. This message is the second post Han has made since stepping down from the emergency committee chairmanship after the April 10 general election defeat. Previously, on the 20th of last month, he posted a reflection taking responsibility for the election loss.

Han’s firm decision to run in the party convention appears to be based on his judgment that this convention is the most suitable time for his political comeback. There is no clear rival, and he enjoys popular support, while both inside and outside the party, calls for his return are growing. On the same day, People Power Party lawmaker Cho Hae-jin said on BBS Radio, "For the party convention, which determines the party’s fate, to be a proper reform convention that attracts the interest and participation of the public and party members, someone like Emergency Committee Member Han Dong-hoon must come forward," lending his support.

Han’s focus on the overseas direct purchase issue is also noteworthy. Since the main age group engaging in direct purchases is in their 30s and 40s, this topic can appeal to that demographic. Kim Jae-seop, People Power Party nominee for Dobong-gap, said on SBS Radio regarding the government’s reversal of the overseas direct purchase ban announcement, "If young people had been the ones discussing it, they probably wouldn’t have made such an announcement."

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