Han Dong-hoon, who has been elected to lead the People Power Party (PPP), faces a range of daunting tasks, most notably repairing the relationship with the presidential office, addressing factional infighting within the party and countering the opposition’s legislation push for contentious bills, political watchers said Wednesday.
In the PPP’s national convention held Tuesday, Han, formerly an interim leader, was elected as chairman, garnering 62.84 percent of the votes. Former Land Minister Won Hee-ryong followed him with 18.85 percent, and five-term lawmaker Rep. Na Kyung-won trailed them with 14.58 percent. Another five-term lawmaker, Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, received 3.73 percent of the ballots.
President Yoon Suk Yeol and Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), sent congratulatory messages to Han, vowing to work together despite differences.
Lee is also the expected winner of the DPK’s ongoing leadership race.
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 커뮤니티 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.
However, Yoon invited Han, PPP floor leader Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, as well as Supreme Council and Youth Council members, to dinner at the presidential residence in a show of rapprochement.
Han and the PPP leadership dined on “samgyeopsal,” BBQ-style pork, mung bean pancakes, and lettuce wraps.
“Samgyeopsal symbolizes harmony between the party and the government, and is an informal Korean food often shared among people in close relationships. President Yoon handpicked the dinner menu,” the presidential office said in a statement.
“The president stressed that the government and party should come together as one team,” a senior presidential office official said.