Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
Will president's protege enter politics?
Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon listens to Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin, unseen, during their meeting at Seongnam City Hall in Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Yonhap
By Nam Hyun-woo
Justice Minister Han's anticipated ruling party entry brings mixed reactions
Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, who is described as the protege of President Yoon Suk Yeol, is emerging as a possible interim leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) in the race for the general elections in April.
The ruling bloc is divided in two regarding the potential leadership of Han, who is a novice in politics. Optimists highly appreciate Han’s public reputation and smart attitude as the new flagbearer of the PPP, which is trying to pull itself together after Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon’s resigned as party chairman. However, pessimists are casting concerns on Han’s political inexperience and possible negative public responses, comparing the minister to Kim Ju-ae, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s daughter who is believed to be the heir apparent of the regime.
Among PPP lawmakers, those endorsing Han as the new interim leader are mostly loyalists to President Yoon.
During a PPP lawmakers’ general assembly on Friday, Rep. Kim Sung-won, who is also the head of the Yeouido Institute, a party think tank, recommended Han as the chairman of the party’s emergency committee. “We need to create a ripple on the stage, and the only one who can create the ripple is Minister Han,” he said.
Rep. Ji Seong-ho said, “Han is the best candidate in terms of freshness and public awareness,” and Rep. Kim Seok-ki also said Han is the “best match” for the interim leadership.
An outspoken former prosecutor, Han has worked with Yoon, who is also a former prosecutor, in multiple investigation teams that delved into high-profile cases including the sale of the now-defunct Korea Exchange Bank to U.S. private equity firm Lone Star Funds.
Since then, Han has been widely known as one of the figures who best understand Yoon’s thoughts. After becoming the first justice minister of the Yoon administration, he has been enjoying high popularity from conservative voters due to his neat styling, smart rhetoric and unyielding stance during arguments with opposition lawmakers.
In a Dec. 8 Gallup Korea poll, 16 percent of respondents selected Han as their preferred next president, closely trailing main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung with 19 percent.
It was the first case of Han competing with Lee within the survey's margin of error, which is plus-minus 3.1 percentage points, and the highest support rate among other conservative presidential hopefuls. The poll surveyed 1,000 adults from Dec. 5 to 7. Further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission’s website.
Given this, the PPP’s pro-Yoon factions believe that Han should be the interim leader in order to give a fresh momentum to the party’s campaigns for the general elections. They also believe in Yoon's influence among conservative voters, and this will provide a boost to the party under Han's leadership, preferring a leader aligned with Yoon rather than one critical of him.
People Power Party lawmakers attend the party's emergency general meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
However, skepticism remains.
Rep. Kim Woong said during the meeting that giving Han the party leadership would be “like North Korea enthroning Kim Ju-ae as the regime’s next leader,” and added, “The PPP may get less than 100 seats in the (300-seat) National Assembly, and Yoon may face impeachment calls.”
“Han is a prominent next frontrunner of our party, but a political freshman," Rep. Ha Tae-keung wrote on Facebook, Sunday. “The position of the interim leader, who must weather all kinds of criticisms, may be premature for Han, whose political capability has not yet been fully validated. Exhausting him prematurely may not be beneficial for the upcoming general elections either.”
Pundits also noted that appointing Han as the PPP's interim leader will further amplify negative views that former prosecutors are dominating key posts in the Yoon administration.
Foreign Minister Park Jin, front, and National Security Director Cho Tae-yong disembark from the presidential jet at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands, Dec. 11. Yonhap
Cabinet reshuffle
Against this backdrop, Han’s potential political debut will likely be determined because President Yoon is expected to announce a series of Cabinet replacements throughout next week.
Han is rumored to be replaced by former Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office head Ghil Tae-ki or Vice Justice Minister Lee Noh-kong.
"The PPP is now collecting various opinions (on the party's interim chief), so we will be able to speak afterward," a senior official at the presidential office said.
Chances are also high for Foreign Minister Park Jin to leave his post to run in the general elections, and former Ambassador to the United Nations Cho Tae-yul is emerging as his successor. During an interview with broadcaster YTN, Friday, Park said he “will return to the National Assembly when the Cabinet reshuffle takes place, so that I can serve my role to help the PPP regain the people’s trust.”
National Security Director Cho Tae-yong is also anticipated to become the director of the National Intelligence Service.
Starting off the Cabinet reshuffle, Yoon on Sunday named Trade Representative Ahn Duk-geun as the new minister of trade, industry and energy.
"Though we believe a Cabinet reshuffle and other staff changes should take place promptly, there are a lot of things to look after," the senior official said. "We will be able to speak further about new appointees when the vetting process is finished."
More ministers or government organization chiefs are anticipated to leave their posts in the near future, as public officials seeking to run in the elections have until Jan. 11 to resign.