Ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon speaks during a party supreme council meeting in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap Ruling party split over leadership shake-up By Kwak Yeon-soo Han Dong-hoon, the newly elected leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), appointed his loyalists to key positions within the party's decision-making body, aiming to strengthen his grip over the party. Han named journalist-turned-politician Kim Chong-hyuk as a new member of the party's supreme council on Monday.
Kim, a close aide to Han, supports the party leader's push for a new bill that would mandate an investigation by a special counsel selected by a "third party" into the military's response to the death of a Marine during a search and rescue operation in a flooded area in July 2023. The new PPP leader also named four-term lawmaker Rep. Kim Sang-hoon as the party's new policy chief, replacing three-term lawmaker Rep.
Jeong Jeom-sig. Jeong, a member of the pro-Yoon Suk Yeol faction within the party, resigned from his position Thursday. Kim's nomination is expected to help Han consolidate his influence within the party's top committee, which is responsible for shaping and advancing the PPP's political platform.
The formation of the new PPP leadership is likely to prevent Han from being isolated within the supreme council, of which he is also a member. Currently, four council members are considered "anti-Han," while two newly elected members support him. Reps.
Jang Dong-hyeok and Jin Jong-oh,.