Handonghun "Party and Government Led" vs Democratic Party "No Chance. Subject to Investigation"

Joint Statement by Han Dong-hoon and Han Deok-su: "Resolution Centered on Party and Government"
Democratic Party: "Han Dong-hoon and Han Deok-su Cannot Be the Center of State Administration"

Following President Yoon Suk-yeol's step back from frontline politics and the failure of the National Assembly's impeachment attempt, People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon, along with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, stepped forward to stabilize the government amid the power vacuum. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) warned that President Yoon, as well as Han Dong-hoon and Han Duck-soo?who are directly or indirectly linked to the emergency martial law?are all 'subjects of investigation,' cautioning them not to even dream of leading the political situation.

On the 7th, Han Dong-hoon and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo issued a joint public statement at the PPP headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. Han said, "We will minimize the confusion that early, orderly presidential resignation might cause to the Republic of Korea and its people, while stabilizing the political situation and firmly establishing liberal democracy."

Subsequently, Kim Min-seok, a senior member of the DPK and chair of the December 3 Yoon Suk-yeol Insurrection Special Countermeasures Committee, held a press conference at the National Assembly to present measures for political stabilization. Kim strongly opposed the Han Dong-hoon?Han Duck-soo government response system, calling it unconstitutional and illegal. He labeled Prime Minister Han as an "immediate subject of investigation for insurrection" and stated that Han Dong-hoon "does not have any authority to lead government operations," instead pointing to President Yoon and meetings with him as grounds for investigation. Essentially, the DPK refuses to accept any political stabilization led by Han Dong-hoon and Han Duck-soo.

Ruling Party: "Yoon Will Not Intervene in Government" vs Opposition: "Yoon Must Be Detained"

Although both sides have announced a step back from frontline politics, they have clearly presented different legal solutions regarding the future handling of President Yoon, who is currently the supreme commander under the law.

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Senior DPK member Kim stated, "The National Investigation Headquarters must immediately arrest and detain all persons related to Yoon Suk-yeol, summon and investigate Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and other cabinet members involved in the insurrection, and all related agencies must exert full efforts to prevent attempts at emergency martial law through North Korean propaganda operations such as leaflet drops and fabricated border shootings." This reflects the need to suppress any possibility of President Yoon using his military command to lead a de facto wartime situation. Related proposals include investigations into military personnel involved in the emergency martial law, a complete ban on leaflet drops to North Korea to ease inter-Korean tensions, and official suspension of President Yoon's duties.

On the other hand, the ruling party's response direction is an "orderly early resignation," though its legal basis remains unclear. Han Dong-hoon said, "President Yoon has promised to entrust the party with the future direction of political stability, including his term," adding, "I believe there will be no confusion during the orderly early resignation process." He further stated, "Even before resignation, the president will not intervene in government affairs, including diplomacy," assuring that "the public and the international community need not worry about this."

Different Approaches to Political Stabilization

The approaches to resolving the situation also differ. The opposition clearly states that investigations should include President Yoon, the government, and ruling party leadership. Meanwhile, the ruling party advocates for "investigations without exception" in principle. However, given that both President Yoon and Han Dong-hoon are former prosecutors, doubts about trust in prosecutorial investigations inevitably grow.

Kim demanded the immediate detention of related persons, suspension of President Yoon's pension and access to materials. Regarding investigation methods, he said, "The National Investigation Headquarters should conduct the investigation and then hand it over to a special prosecutor," urging "swift and decisive investigations by the National Investigation Headquarters." He also announced a policy to exclude the Ministry of Justice and prosecution from the investigation line. Kim warned, "The prosecution has no legal investigative authority and shares deep vested interests with Yoon Suk-yeol, providing strong motives to cover up Yoon's insurrection. We issue a serious and stern warning against such prosecutorial conduct." He added, "If after Kim Yong-hyun's detention there is any attempt to distort or reduce the speed and direction of the investigation, it will be regarded as an act of covering up insurrection, which is itself an act of insurrection, exceeding mere self-preservation efforts by the prosecution."

In contrast, Han Dong-hoon said, "The ongoing investigations related to emergency martial law will be conducted strictly, without exception, and transparently," assuring, "Neither the government nor the party will defend anyone, including the president."

Opposition: "No Chance for Government-Party Consultation to Run Politics"

The ruling party aims to seek solutions through consultations between the party and government, but the opposition dismisses this as unrealistic.

Han Dong-hoon said, "We will regularize meetings between the party leader and the prime minister," adding, "We will maintain constant communication at least once a week to prepare countermeasures for pressing issues such as the economy, defense, and diplomacy, ensuring no political vacuum occurs." Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also stated, "Above all, it is crucial that there be no political vacuum whatsoever," expressing the government's intention to take the lead.

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However, the opposition responded, "The so-called responsible prime minister system completely ignores the current constitution and is an unconstitutional and anarchic idea that would lead the country into abnormality," adding, "No unconstitutional governance will be tolerated even for a split second, regardless of any agreement between Yoon Suk-yeol, Han Dong-hoon, and Han Duck-soo." The opposition holds that neither Prime Minister Han nor leader Han has the qualifications to lead the government or must undergo verification.

Moreover, the opposition declared the ruling party, which has been entrusted with government operations by President Yoon, as an "unconstitutional and illegal force." Kim Min-seok claimed, "The People Power Party, which obstructed the collective suspension of the insurrection ringleader's duties and reappointed Representative Chu Kyung-ho, who is strongly suspected of conspiring with the insurrection ringleader, will face the historical judgment as an anti-national force, not a conservative one, and will disappear."

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