PPP interim leader urges victory to stop DP chief's 'autocracy'

The conservative People Power Party's (PPP) new interim leader, Han Dong-hoon, vowed on Tuesday to “do all” he can to ensure the party's victory in the general election scheduled for April while promising not to run for the National Assembly himself.

The conservative People Power Party's new interim leader Han Dong-hoon speaks during his acceptance speech at the party's headquarters in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Tuesday afternoon. [YONHAP]

The conservative People Power Party's (PPP) new interim leader, Han Dong-hoon, vowed on Tuesday to “do all” he can to ensure the party's victory in the upcoming general election scheduled for April while promising not to run for a National Assembly seat himself.

Han’s acceptance speech during his afternoon swearing-in ceremony as chair of the party’s emergency steering committee struck a dark tone as he warned that a PPP victory was necessary to forestall the rise of “autocracy” led Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the rival Democratic Party, who is facing investigation on multiple charges of corruption, breach of trust, and abuse of power.

Han, who as justice minister exhorted the National Assembly to approve Lee’s arrest by prosecutors, said that “sensible people should feel a sense of fear” if the DP were allowed to retain its control of the legislature,” but said that he would campaign with “courage.”

Han also blamed the DP for blocking prosecutorial investigations into the DP chairman’s affairs, which include allegations he orchestrated profit distribution schemes favorable to his associates and money transfers to North Korea for his own political benefit.

“We must stop the majority party from ruining this country and its future with its obstruction of justice for grave crimes,” he said.

Han also said he would work to “eliminate the special political status enjoyed by former student democracy activists” who make up the bulk of the DP’s upper echelons, arguing that the country “deserves better politics” led by “competent and dynamic individuals who understand people’s interests.”

But Han also said he would not run for a seat in the National Assembly, either as a representative of a parliamentary constituency or as a member of the party’s proportional representation list, suggesting his current political objectives are limited to reforming the PPP.

Han’s appointment as the party’s interim leader was confirmed earlier in the day by an online convention of the party’s National Council, which voted 96 percent in favor of his nomination.

His appointment comes as the PPP works to revamp its public image after it suffered a stunning loss in the October by-election to fill the top post at Seoul’s Gangseo District.

Recent polling indicates a rise in support for the PPP since Han was first floated as a potential candidate to lead the party.

According to a Realmeter survey of 1,003 people conducted between Dec. 21 and Dec. 22, the PPP received 39 percent support compared to the DP’s 41.6 percent, with the gap between the two major parties narrowing from 8 percentage points the previous week to 2.6 percentage points.

As interim leader, Han is responsible for selecting 12 other members of the PPP’s emergency steering committee, which he is expected to finish doing by Friday.

Members of the party, including Rep. Ha Tae-keung, have called on the 50-year-old Han to pick younger individuals born in the 1970s, 80s and 90s to join the committee.

According to a report by the JoongAng Ilbo, one candidate who could be tapped to join Han’s team is 49-year-old Rep. Cho Jung-hun, who joined the PPP in September after his minor liberal Transition Korea party merged with the larger conservative party.

According to the JoongAng Ilbo’s sources, Cho is being eyed for his potential role in expanding the party’s outreach to a younger audience and swing voters, diverging from the PPP's traditional base of older individuals primarily residing in the Gyeongsang region.

In a recent radio interview, the lawmaker stated that he has constantly communicated with Han regarding the creation of an immigration agency, which the former justice minister has advocated.

Another potential candidate reported by the JoongAng to be under consideration is Joo Jin-woo, President Yoon Suk Yeol’s legal affairs secretary and a former prosecutor who served as Han’s defense attorney when he was accused of colluding with a journalist to frame Rhyu Si-min, a significant figure in the DP.

While Han was acquitted, the Seoul Western District Court recently fined Rhyu 5 million won ($3,800) for defaming the former justice minister by accusing him of illegally investigating Rhyu and the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation.

BY MICHAEL LEE, LEE HO-JEONG [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]