1 week Ago By [email protected](KoreaTimes)
Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party, speaks during a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap Ruling party secures wins in Busan’s Geumjeong District, Incheon's Ganghwa County By Kwak Yeon-soo Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), is likely to gain a firmer grip over the party and increase pressure on President Yoon Suk Yeol to resolve some of the issues relating to the first lady after the PPP secured by-election wins in its strongholds, according to political watchers, Thursday. The PPP clinched victories in its traditional stronghold constituencies — Busan's Geumjeong District and Incheon’s Ganghwa County — in Wednesday’s by-elections as the party seeks to recover from a low approval rating following its crushing defeat in the April 10 general elections.
According to the National Election Commission, PPP candidate Yoon Il-hyun gained 61.03 percent of the votes in Busan’s Geumjeong District, a highly contested area, outpacing the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate Kim Kyung-ji with 38.96 percent.
In Incheon’s Ganghwa County, Park Yong-cheol of the PPP won against Han Yeon-hee of the DPK, 50.97 percent to 42.12 percent.
The DPK won in Yeonggwang and Gokseong counties in South Jeolla Province, while Jung Keun-sik, a progressive honorary professor at Seoul National University, was elected the new education chief of Seoul. Han wrote on Facebook that the election result is an opportunity that has been given to the PPP and the government to undergo change and reform. Voter turnout for the election was 24.
62 percent. Political watchers said the election result has provided momentum for Han to tighten his grip on the party. “The election result will likely boost Han’s crusade against President Yoon.
Han will seek to improve his party and the presidential office’s relationship after a period of very bad relations. President Yoon won’t ‘completely surrender’ on pending issues, but he will try to find common ground like reinstating the office tasked solely with managing the first lady’s activities and promising that she will refrain from carrying out public activities,” Park Sang-byeong, political commentator, said. President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a speech at Gangneung Ice Arena in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Thursday.
Yonhap Rising tensions between Yoon and Han have been fueled by differences over the government's medical reforms and controversies surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee, including allegations of stock manipulation, a graft scandal involving a luxury handbag and interference in state affairs. “Next week’s one-on-one meeting with Han will show how President Yoon aims to navigate the tricky situation. The president can no longer ignore Han’s advice given the by-election result, but he cannot transfer power to Han either because he has more than two years left to lead the country,” Park added.
Meanwhile, Han has again called for the withdrawal of the first lady from public activities. “The first lady should refrain from public activities as she had promised during the presidential election. The presidential office needs to reshuffle its personnel to alleviate public concerns about Kim,” he said during a Supreme Council meeting, Thursday.
It has been alleged that around six to seven individuals at the presidential office who assist with the first lady's affairs have influence over state matters, including personnel decisions, beyond their official duties and authority. The presidential office declined to comment directly on Han’s remarks regarding the first lady. “Even if there are difficulties, we will unwaveringly push forward with the four major reforms, including health care reform and tackling the low birthrate, in the future,” a presidential official said.
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