Despite the Start of the People Power Party Primary, 'Great Hope Theory' Persists

Possibility of 'Big Tent' Coalition After Final Candidate Selection on the 3rd of Next Month

Appears to Distance Himself from Presidential Bid Rumors

Unusually Active Moves, Including a Visit to Gwangju

Ruling Party: "Public Opinion in the Next 10 Days Is Crucial"

Some See Him as a Possible Card to Counter Lee Jaemyung

"Likely to Serve Only as a Spark, Like Ban Ki-moon Did"

Concerns That He Is Lowering Interest in the Primary

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Ducksoo has announced he will not run in the People Power Party primary, but the 'great hope theory' within the ruling bloc remains undiminished. This is because there is still a possibility of pursuing a 'big tent' coalition that brings together various political forces after the People Power Party selects its final candidate on the 3rd of next month.

For now, Acting President Han and the Prime Minister's Office seem to be drawing a line on the speculation about a presidential bid, but there is analysis that Han's aggressive actions are unusual. On the 15th, Acting President Han visited Gwangju Kia Autoland to hear the voices of the automobile industry facing difficulties due to U.S. tariff policies, emphasizing, "We are making our best efforts in negotiations to minimize the tariff burden."

With US tariff negotiations becoming the government's top priority, Acting President Han chose Gwangju as his first destination, and both the timing and location of the visit sparked various political interpretations. After visiting industrial sites, he personally gave encouragement money at a restaurant in Daein Market, Dong-gu, Gwangju, which offers meals for 1,000 won, and left a handwritten letter. The Prime Minister's Office cautioned against overinterpretation, stating, "Even before becoming acting president, he used to personally attend to public welfare whenever there were regional schedules," but some analyze this as a move targeting the Honam electorate, since Acting President Han is originally from Jeonju.

A key official from the People Power Party stated, "It is still too early to definitively say whether Acting President Han will run or not," adding, "The direction of public opinion over the next 10 days will be important." Some speculate, with hope, that if Acting President Han leverages his expertise in trade to project an image of stable governance, he could become a card to counter former Democratic Party leader Lee Jaemyung.

However, there is fierce debate within the People Power Party. Some worry that Acting President Han's ambiguous stance is dampening interest and focus on the primary, and could relegate the participating presidential hopefuls to mere supporting roles. A ruling party official predicted, "Just as former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon served only as a spark during former President Park Geunhye's time, Han is likely to play a similar role," and added, "It will be difficult to win with a scenario where he runs as an independent and then unites with the People Power Party candidate."

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