'Countdown to Appearance' Han Dong-hoon, What Did He Discuss with Kim Jong-in, Jo Gap-je, and Yoo In-tae?

Met with Kim Jong-in, Jo Gap-je, and Yoo In-tae around Lunar New Year
Pro-Han faction accelerates 'side support' with YouTube channel launch
Speculation grows over resumption of public activities within this month

Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the People Power Party, is reported to have sought advice on the current political situation by meeting consecutively with senior figures from both conservative and progressive camps, fueling speculation that his political comeback is imminent. On the 4th, Yonhap News reported that Han met last month, around the Lunar New Year holiday, with Kim Jong-in, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, conservative commentator Jo Gap-je, CEO of 'Jo Gap-je.com,' and Yoo In-tae, former Democratic Party lawmaker. Han is said to have received advice from them regarding the impeachment political situation and his future political moves.

Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon is reported to have sought advice on the current political situation by meeting consecutively with senior figures from both conservative and progressive camps, leading to speculation that his return to the political arena is imminent. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Last month, photos of Han meeting with pro-Han faction lawmaker Jin Jong-oh and figures outside the party were posted on social media, revealing recent images of the former leader. Among these, some analyses suggest that if Han resumes his political activities, it should be viewed as a move considering an early presidential election bid. Although his favorability declined in polls for the next party leader after resigning from the leadership position, pro-Han faction lawmakers evaluate him as a candidate who can unite moderate and conservative votes by emphasizing the value of 'true conservatism.'

Meanwhile, some pro-Han faction figures have already begun providing indirect support for Han. Park Sang-su, party committee chairman for Incheon Seo-gu Gap, launched a YouTube channel called 'Under73 Studio' on the 1st. Named after Han’s birth year, 1973, the channel gained over 16,000 subscribers within four days of its launch. This is expected to serve as a media communication channel for Han in the future.

Accordingly, pro-Han faction figures predict that Han will resume public activities within this month. Kim Sang-wook, a representative pro-Han lawmaker, said on CBS Radio that "this is a personal estimate, but I think there will be some movement starting this weekend or next week." Kim and others are scheduled to meet Kim Hyun-chul, chairman of the Kim Young-sam Memorial Association and second son of former President Kim Young-sam, at the Kim Young-sam Library in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the 7th. Given that former President Kim is a symbolic figure in the development of democracy, this is interpreted as an effort to highlight Han’s role in immediately calling for the 'lifting of martial law' during the emergency martial law period.

However, some pro-Han faction figures expressed caution about the timing of Han’s resumption of public activities. A close associate of Han said, "If he steps forward immediately, there is a risk of facing crossfire from the party’s core supporters," emphasizing, "He will move before the impeachment decision is made, but we need to comprehensively consider changes in public opinion and other factors."

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