Kim Jong-hyeok "Han Dong-hoon Won't Just Watch Conservatism Fall Apart" [AK Radio]

Kim Jong-hyuk, former Supreme Council member of the People Power Party classified as part of the 'Chinhan Donghoon faction,' expressed mixed feelings about the current situation of the People Power Party, saying, "I don't know whether to cry or laugh." Regarding the recent rise in party approval ratings and the recovery of support among men in their 20s and 30s, he said, "On the surface, it's a reason to smile," but expressed concern, stating, "It's not because we did well, but because it stems from anger." He particularly pointed out, "The approval ratings didn't rise because we properly implemented policies or presented a vision to the people."

Former Supreme Council member Kim analyzed, "The rise in support is due to the emotional anger of the hardline conservative supporters regarding the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol and the active movements of the Liberty Unification Party faction." He explained, "There was emotional anger acting, saying, 'Are we going to impeach the president we elected again, following President Park Geun-hye?'" He also evaluated the phenomenon of the recovery of support among men in their 20s and 30s alongside the deepening departure of women in the same age group as "a much more severe drop than during the presidential election."

Yesterday, Emergency Committee Chairman Kwon Young-se, Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong, and Assemblywoman Na Kyung-won met with President Yoon Seok-yeol

Former leader Han Dong-hoon had criticized the emergency martial law as wrong and demanded the president's withdrawal from the party. Currently, the leadership not only rejects withdrawal but rather actively shows cooperation with President Yoon Seok-yeol. This may help consolidate the immediate support base. However, if the impeachment is accepted, and during the trial process evidence emerges proving that what the president said is not all true, there will be difficulties in deciding what position our party should take. When various controversies surrounding the emergency martial law surface without severing ties with the president, what can our party say to the public to ask for votes? This is a concern.

The theory of generational change is also gradually emerging.

As a journalist, comparing to when I covered the New Korea Party in 1996, nearly 30 years have passed. However, the DNA has not changed at all. The refusal to change and renew and the tendency to cling to vested interests remain. It has become a party that has lost sight of the fact that reform and renewal are the core of conservative DNA. It mistakenly believes that protecting vested interests is the essence of conservatism. Conservatism is not about revolution but about respecting past traditions, acknowledging the achievements made by previous generations, respecting laws and order, and changing things one by one. The times change, and if you do not change, you are not conservative. From then on, it is just a path to death. Generational change in conservatism is necessary, not only in age but especially in spirit.

Reformist Party member Lee Jun-seok recently declared his candidacy for the presidential election, advocating generational change. What is your view?

He is an intelligent and lively person. Calling for generational change was appropriate and well done. Since we come from the same root, I expect that eventually we will unite. I believe everyone must join forces to face the Democratic Party, and in that sense, Lee Jun-seok will also likely join forces.

Former Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, Kim Jong-hyuk, advocated for the need for generational change within the People Power Party. Yonhap News

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It has been over a month since stepping down as leader. How is former leader Han Dong-hoon doing these days?

He is studying, reading many books, and meeting many people. Since he does not drink alcohol, he spends that time reading books. On the night of December 3, during the emergency martial law, Han Dong-hoon was reborn as a politician. His courage to stand against martial law, saying it was unacceptable, will be historically recognized. He received calls telling him to run away quickly and faced the possibility of arrest or worse, yet he showed courage.

There are almost no public appearances.

He is not meeting people who would be publicly revealed. Also, he does not meet people with whom he would talk openly about who he met.

There are talks that former leader Han will soon return fully to politics.

He will not just watch the future of the Republic of Korea and Korean conservatism collapse or be ruined. He is deeply considering how the political schedule will proceed. Once the current fervor settles, a completely different scenario will unfold. He will come to the forefront in February or March.

Handonghun, former leader of the People Power Party, is greeting supporters after resigning as party leader on December 16 last year. Photo by Yonhap News

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Some criticize him as a 'traitor.'

A person who betrays the people is a traitor. Politics should not operate like organized crime. Wasn't Han Dong-hoon one of the people who helped President Yoon the most during his prosecutor days? During his time as Minister of Justice, he fiercely fought Representative Lee Jae-myung in the National Assembly and was evaluated as '1 versus 180.' The biggest beneficiary of that was President Yoon. Those criticizing former leader Han now were the most enthusiastic back then. Logically, it does not make sense to say who betrayed whom.

Former Supreme Council member Kim dismissed the election fraud theory as a "poisoned apple." He pointed out, "In the past, it was a voice shouted by a few, but the president claimed through a statement that there was clear evidence, which caused it to spread." He emphasized that despite about 160 raids on the National Election Commission and over 130 lawsuits, no suspicions were proven. "Regarding all suspicions such as the bluish color of the ballots or arrows, the National Election Commission proved through actual demonstrations that they were not true," and drew a clear line, saying, "Election management failures and election fraud are completely different."

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