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, elected to the party's decision-making body at the PPP's national convention last month, a re also known to support Han. Party members were split over Han's leadership shake-up. Rep.
Yoon Sang-hyun expressed regret that Han chose change over harmony. "The leadership shake-up was apparently about bringing change to the party. I wish he could have kept someone who could be a bridge between the ruling party and the president," Yoon said Monday in a radio interview.
This development could exacerbate internal divisions, as Han has been trying, since taking office in late July, to mend his relationship with the president. Han, a former justice minister once known as a close ally of Yoon, had clashed with the president over politically sensitive issues in the run-up to the April 10 general elections, including how to handle allegations over first lady Kim Keon Hee receiving a luxury bag as a gift in 2022. Tensions with Yoon resurfaced this month over allegations that Han had ignored Telegram messages from the first lady earlier this year regarding the issue.
Last week, Yoon advised Han to embrace a diverse range of people during their private meeting at the presidential office. Yoon's chief of staff, Chung Jin-suk, reportedly urged Han not to replace Jeong. Journalist-turned-politician Kim Chong-hyuk, a new member of the ruling People Power Party's supreme council, is seen in this June 27 file photo.
Yonhap Kim Chong-hyuk argued that Han had wanted to retain Jeong until the pro-Yoon faction started manipulating the media. “There were reports that the appointment of a new policy chief was the first hurdle that Han must overcome. If Han had kept Jeong in the post, he would have risked being seen merely as Yoon’s avatar,” he said in a radio interview.
Former lawmaker Shin Ji-ho and Rep. Jung Sung-kook, who are also considered part of the pro-Han faction, were appointed as vice secretary general for strategic planning, and as vice secretary general for organizational affairs, respectively. Jung, the former head of the Korean Federation of Teachers’ Associations, was recruited by Han ahead of the April 10 general elections.
In a move to unite party members and push forward his policy agenda, Han began, Monday, to hold lunch meetings with seasoned lawmakers of the party who have served more than four terms..
