From left, former PPP interim leader Han Dong-hoon, former Land Minister Won Hee-ryong, Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun and Rep. Na Kyung-won pose at a party event held at Daegu Exhibition and Convention Center in Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province, Friday.
By Kwak Yeon-soo Han Dong-hoon, the former interim leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), is currently leading public opinion polls for the party’s leadership role, even as he faces allegations of having ignored Telegram messages from first lady Kim Keon Hee earlier this year. Along with Han, five-term lawmaker Rep. Na Kyung-won, former Land Minister Won Hee-ryong and five-term lawmaker Rep.
Yoon Sang-hyun are vying for the PPP chairmanship, which will be decided at a national convention on July 23. Gallup Korea surveyed 1,000 Korean adults from July 9 to 11 to gauge the popularity of candidates for the PPP’s new chairperson, and 36 percent of the respondents picked Han as most preferred party leader, followed by Na at 17 percent, Won at 10 percent and Yoon at 7 percent. Over half of the PPP supporters said they plan to vote for Han as the next party chairman.
The allegations regarding the first lady’s text messages have emerged as the latest hot-button issue for PPP leadership contenders, who are intensifying their attacks on Han as his popularity continues to rise. Kim reportedly sent several messages to Han in January, offering to make a public apology for accepting a luxury handbag in 2022, which was causing problems for the PPP ahead of the April 10 general elections. Han’s failure to respond to her messages is now criticized as a missed opportunity that could have potentially altered the election outcome.
Won, Na and Yoon have escalated their criticism against Han, claiming that his failure to address the first lady’s apology offer was a serious mistake that contributed to the PPP’s overwhelming defeat in the April 10 parliamentary elections. The party now holds 108 of the 300 seats in the National Assembly. Meanwhile, the PPP’s election management committee issued warnings to Won and Han, saying both candidates should refrain from making ferocious attacks.
The PPP hopefuls are scheduled to hold four more TV debates before the July 23 national convention..
