Meeting with Han Dong-hoon, Four-Term Veterans Say "Kim Kyung-soo Pardon Inappropriate"

Four-term senior lawmakers of the People Power Party expressed their opinion that the reinstatement of former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo by the Presidential Office is inappropriate during a lunch meeting with Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party.

Handonghun, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 29th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

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One lawmaker who attended the lunch near Yeouido, Seoul on the 12th told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "The senior lawmakers were the first to bring up that the reinstatement was inappropriate," adding, "Among the senior lawmakers, some also conveyed to Leader Han that this opinion should be communicated to the Presidential Office." Lawmakers Kim Do-eup, Kim Sang-hoon, Yoon Young-seok, Lee Jong-bae, and Han Ki-ho were present at the lunch. It is known that the majority of attendees expressed negative views regarding the reinstatement of former Governor Kim.

Leader Han reportedly responded to the senior lawmakers by saying, "I have heard that there are such concerns, and I am also aware that there was strong opposition from our party members on the party bulletin board." After the lunch, Leader Han told reporters, "My position has already been made clear and sufficiently conveyed. I will not make any more specific comments."

It is said that the lunch also included discussions related to the appointment of Kim Hyung-seok as the new director of the Independence Hall, which has sparked controversy over historical perspectives. In addition, party internal issues such as reforms of the Yeouido Research Institute, as well as public livelihood issues like youth solitary deaths, electric vehicle fire prevention, and military treatment improvements were mentioned.

Leader Han has recently been continuing a series of 'relay lunches' with key party figures. Starting with a lunch on the 2nd with the previous leadership, the Emergency Committee led by Hwang Woo-yeo, he has successively held lunches with lawmakers who have served five or more terms, including Joo Ho-young, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

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