Park Minshik: "Unification with Han is a Delusion" Han Donghoon: "Defending Martial Law Is Unacceptable"

With the by-election for the Buk-gu Gap district in Busan, held alongside the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections on June 3, approaching, Park Minshik, the People Power Party candidate, and Han Donghoon, the independent candidate, continue to engage in a heated debate targeting the conservative vote. Park stated, "The idea of unifying behind candidate Han is a delusion," while Han countered, "Conservatives will never regain power with politics that defend martial law and take an ambiguous stance on impeachment."

On the afternoon of May 21, at a campaign launch event in Buk-gu, Busan, Park Minshik made a statement targeting Han Donghoon after shaving his head. Park said, "Who is the intruder who suddenly flew into Buk-gu and now tries to act like the owner?" He continued, "He imprisoned President Lee Myungbak, put President Park Geunhye before the sword of justice, and turned his back on President Yoon Sukyeol, bringing down the administration—a cruel betrayer."

Yonhap News Agency

Park added, "The moment Han Donghoon is accepted, the path of Han Donghoon-style conservative devastation, pillaging of Buk-gu, and parasitism on the Democratic Party will be complete," and continued, "That is not unification; it's an act of self-destruction, handing over our Buk-gu entirely to Ha Jeongwoo of the Democratic Party and the Lee Jaemyung administration. Saying 'conservatives will unite behind Han Donghoon' is as much a fantasy as 'hot iced Americano'—something that cannot exist in the first place."

After attending a community meal event in Buk-gu, Busan, Han Donghoon responded to reporters regarding Park's 'betrayer' narrative, saying, "Is he referring to himself, who betrayed and left (Buk-gu Gap)?" and emphasized, "With politics that defend martial law and take an ambiguous position on impeachment, conservatives will never regain power."

Han continued, "Even if December 3, 2024 comes again, I would act in exactly the same way," and added, "I have no regrets about that decision. If I had not made that choice, the People Power Party would not exist today, and Korea would have fallen into a major crisis."

Regarding his recent rise in public opinion polls, Han Donghoon said, "I believe there is a current of public sentiment, and as a politician, I am deeply humbled and will do my utmost with even greater sincerity." He added, "I believe that the public is showing the way for what will rebuild the conservative camp, restore Buk-gu, and save Korea."

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