The Democratic Party's Growing Calls to Check Han Dong-hoon After Jeon Dae-rul Announcement

Na Kyung-won "Non-incumbent party leaders must face difficulties"
Yoon Sang-hyun "Why did you resign?"
20% delegate rule reflecting public opinion also faces complaints in various places

Since the People Power Party finalized the rules for the party convention on the 13th, voices criticizing former Emergency Response Committee member Han Dong-hoon’s bid for party leader have been growing within the party. This comes amid expectations that Han will soon announce his candidacy now that the convention rules have been set. It is interpreted as an attempt to check the spreading atmosphere inside and outside the party that 'Eodaehan (Anyway, the party leader will be Han Dong-hoon)' before it solidifies.

On the morning of the same day, People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won, when asked by reporters at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building, "What kind of person do you think should come as a candidate for party leader?" replied, "It is necessary to strongly condense all the party’s energy while also responsibly negotiating with the Democratic Party of Korea as needed," adding, "In the case of an external (party leader), I think there might be various difficulties in that regard."

Na’s remarks are interpreted as targeting former committee member Han, who is not a current lawmaker. After the crushing defeat in the April 10 general election, Han has expressed his positions on various issues, contacted party insiders, and is expected to announce his candidacy as early as this week. Jeong Seong-guk, a lawmaker and Han’s first recruited talent, told reporters after the People Power Party lawmakers’ meeting at the National Assembly, "Isn’t it time that can no longer be postponed? I don’t think it will go beyond next week," adding, "Han Dong-hoon’s time will come soon."

However, when asked if Na’s remarks were aimed at Han, she said, "It is not directed at anyone," and added, "I think a truly good leadership party leader should be with us to overcome this crisis and transform the party into one that regains the love of the people."

There are also figures who directly criticized Han’s candidacy. Yoon Sang-hyun, who is also considered a contender for party leadership along with Han and Na, wrote on Facebook the same day, "Someone who took responsibility for the general election defeat and resigned is now saying they will run again," and argued, "Then why did they resign? The logic that taking the party leader position is a responsible attitude is a Democratic Party-style sophistry."

Kim Ki-hyun, who served as the immediate past party leader, criticized Han’s "Lee Jae-myung and Cho Kuk judgment theory" promoted during the April 10 general election defeat, and pointed out, "We need to establish a new and fresh leadership that can revive the party and improve people’s livelihoods, not a failed leadership."

Handonghun, Emergency Response Committee Chairman 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@

'Reflecting 20% of Public Opinion' Convention Rule... Criticism from the Ruling Party as 'Rather Regressive'

There is also backlash from party leadership contenders over the decision to set the party leader election ratio at 8 (party member votes) to 2 (public opinion polls). Lawmaker Yoon criticized, "The Democratic Party has 25%, but we should have reflected at least 30 to 50%," adding, "It looks like the image of a victorious party, not a defeated one."

Lawmaker Ahn also pointed out, "We suffered a crushing defeat in the general election, so shouldn’t we show that we accept public opinion? The most important thing that shows this is the ratio reflecting public opinion."

Lawmaker Kim Jae-seop, who hinted at running for the party convention, emphasized, "The previous convention rule (before the March 8 convention last year was 7 to 3) should have been maintained to give the impression that we have changed, but since it became 8 to 2, which is more regressive than 7 to 3, it will look like we are trying not to change."

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