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.
Yoon, PPP interim chief try to patch up feud to avoid damaging election campaign
President Yoon Suk Yeol and ruling People Power Party interim leader Han Dong-hoon visit a traditional market in Seocheon County, South Chungcheong Province, Tuesday, a day after a fire broke out in the market. Yonhap
By Nam Hyun-woo
Reconciliation unlikely to work in favor of ruling party's vote prospects
President Yoon Suk Yeol and ruling People Power Party (PPP) interim leader Han Dong-hoon displayed a reconciliatory gesture, addressing their disagreements regarding candidate recommendations and controversies related to first lady Kim Keon Hee, apparently to prevent potential harm to the PPP's campaigns for the April 10 general elections.
Yoon and Han met on Tuesday at a traditional market in Seocheon County, South Chungcheong Province, where a fire broke out overnight. The visit was organized spontaneously, with arrangements made only late Tuesday morning.
Han arrived at the site of the fire just minutes before Yoon. The two exchanged greetings after being briefed by firefighters. After visiting the site, they took the presidential train together back to Seoul, according to the presidential office.
"I have deep respect and trust for President Yoon and that remains unchanged," Han told reporters after arriving at Seoul Station. "The president and I have traveled this journey together with the shared goal of improving the country and the lives of its people...I am committed to giving my best efforts to ensure that the PPP represents the people's choice and contributes to the betterment of the country."
Shop owners at a traditional market in Seocheon County, South Chungcheong Province, which suffered an overnight fire, voice their disappointment at President Yoon Suk Yeol, claiming the president did not offer words of condolence, Tuesday. Yonhap
The impromptu meeting was seen as a conciliatory gesture aimed at addressing the ongoing feud between Yoon and Han. On Monday, the head of the ruling party revealed that Yoon had requested Han's resignation from the interim leader position through presidential chief of staff Lee Kwan-sup. Despite this, Han asserted that he has no intention of stepping down.
Sources said the president expressed concern over Han's public endorsement of Kim Kyung-yul, a member of the PPP's interim leadership committee, for the Mapo B constituency in Seoul. The president's objection stems from the fact that the party's candidate recommendation rule has not been finalized, and Han's public endorsement of a specific individual could be perceived as "bid rigging."
While the presidential office attributes Yoon's discontent with Han to his public endorsement, analysts believe that what truly upset the president were Kim's previous remarks regarding allegations involving the first lady receiving a Christian Dior handbag from a Korean American pastor in 2022. Han's stance, considering the handbag controversy as "a matter of public concern," is also seen as a point of contention.
As the feud raised questions about the viability of Han's leadership and provided an opening for criticism from the opposition party, the presidential office clarified that Yoon was not requesting Han's resignation. Instead, it was an expression of concern regarding the public endorsement issue.
The ruling party also tried to prevent the Yoon-Han feud from becoming an obstacle to the PPP’s election campaign.
During a radio interview with broadcaster KBS, PPP Rep. Lee Chul-gyu, a Yoon loyalist, said, “The misunderstanding is likely to be resolvedquickly.” He added, “Any conflicts will be reconciled without a doubt.”
“Both the presidential office and the PPP work for the people, not for their individual interests. So everything will be okay,” Lee said. “I believe the party will do its job, the party leader will do his job, and the government will do its job for the people.”
Ruling People Power Party interim leader Han Dong-hoon, left, bows to President Yoon Suk Yeol during their visit to a traditional market in Seocheon County, South Chungcheong Province, Tuesday, a day after a fire broke out in the market. Yonhap
Although Yoon and Han displayed a gesture of reconciliation, their fight does not bode well for the PPP’s election campaign, pundits said.
“It seems that Yoon and Han are trying to somehow end their conflict and reconcile, even though it can be superficial,” said Park Sang-byeong, a professor at Inha University's Graduate School of Policy Science.
“Even if their conflict is addressed, there is no gain for both the presidential office and the PPP, because the public's sentiment has already worsened over the first lady’s controversies. It seems that Yoon was trying to catch Han off guard before the party begins to recommend candidates, but Han fought back. I believe there are plenty of chances for them to have conflicts during the process of the election campaigns.”
Several shop owners from the traditional market that experienced the fire expressed their disappointment to Yoon, stating that the president did not meet with the victims of the fire and did not extend words of condolence.
Presidential spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung said in a statement, "Over 150 shop owners expressed gratitude to President Yoon and conveyed their concerns." However, some shop owners contended that they had waited throughout the night to see Yoon but were unable to do so.
Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Kim Han-kyu wrote on Facebook, "I saw video clips featuring shop owners expressing their disappointment, claiming that Yoon only took a photo with Han" and "the two used the disaster site as a backdrop for their reconciliation."