PPP’s new emergency committee chairman Han Dong-hoon says he will make efforts to prevent the Minjoo Party from ruining Korea

Han Dong-hoon, the new chairman of the National Emergency Committee of the People\'s Power, delivers a speech accepting his post at an inauguration ceremony at the National Emergency Committee\'s central headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on Sept. 26. Park Min-kyu Senior Reporter

Han Dong-hoon, new chairman of the ruling People’s Power Party, criticized the main opposition Minjoo Party in his inauguration speech on December 26. He said, "We must prevent Lee Jae-myung's Minjoo Party from ruining the country by colluding with the privileged forces with a background in political activism and Lee’s female enthusiasts.” It seems to be an attempt to set up a "Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon vs. Defendant Lee Jae-myung" scenario. Although he emphasized "better politics," criticism has been raised that he is repeating the existing politics to eventually earn benefits from attacking the Minjoo Party.

Han also said that he will not run in next year's general election and will only support candidates who pledge to give up their immunity from arrest. It has been pointed out that he has not shown his willingness to renew the PPP, such as reforming the vertical relationship between the party and the government.

"I wanted to help make a good country and make the lives of my fellow citizens better," Han said at the inauguration ceremony at the PPP’s headquarter in Yeouido, Seoul.

Citing the difficulty of dealing with the "runaway majority," Han listed the independence fighters in Manchuria, the Incheon Landing Operations, the Battles of Yeonpyeong, the pioneers of industrialization, and the students and office workers fighting for democratization. "Courage and dedication were the weapons with which Korean heroes overcame difficulties. Let's take up those weapons again," he said. "On behalf of the common-sense people, we will fight Lee's Minjoo Party and the privileged forces with a background in political activism that hide behind the opposition party and try to rule over the people," he stressed.

Han also said, "Let's soberly reflect together on why the PPP cannot hold all the cards even in the surreal situation where the leader of the opposition party faces criminal trial for serious crimes three to four times a week." He added, "It's not that the PPP is lagging behind unfairly though it is doing well. We must be able to convince people that we have the skills and attitude to replace the privileged forces with a background in political activism.”

Regarding the upcoming general election, Han said, "The PPP will only nominate those who promise to give up their immunity from arrest," adding, "We will take strong measures such as immediate expulsion from the party for those who break the promise later."

Han's inaugural address was reminiscent of a declaration of war against the Minjoo Party. In the speech, “the privileged forces with a background in political activism” appeared seven times, “Lee Jae-myung” appeared five times, and “the totalitarianism of Lee’s female enthusiasts” and “serious crimes” appeared twice, respectively. Although he emphasized the life of his fellow citizens, critics say that it is actually a declaration that he will earn benefits from forming a battlefield with the opposition party and attack its weaknesses.

Concerns have also been raised within the ruling party. A PPP lawmaker from the non-Yoon faction said, "Han should have emphasized a generational change and a pragmatic party while trying to break away from the ideology today, but if he put the criticism of the Minjoo Party first, it would be the same as Hwang Kyo-ahn four years ago.” Regarding his decision not to run in the general election, the lawmaker said, "It could be seen as a flight from risk." Regarding the direction of the party's operation, Han said, "The party should not come first, but people should come first.” When asked about the relationship between the government and the ruling party, he said, "It is not something to talk about. It's a mutually cooperative partnership," adding, “There is no place to intervene in this relationship.”

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.