Jane Han is the North America editor for The Korea Times. Based in Seattle, she has covered business, culture and social issues across the United States for over 15 years. She previously worked at The Boston Globe.
Han stages comeback with Busan parliamentary by-election victory
Han Dong-hoon greets supporters at his campaign office in Busan after winning the parliamentary by-election in Busan's Buk-A constituency on Thursday. Yonhap
By Jane Han, Anna J. Park
Former PPP leader wins three-way race as presidential AI aide suffers narrow defeat
Independent candidate Han Dong-hoon won a closely watched parliamentary by-election in Busan's Buk-A constituency, Thursday, capping a dramatic political comeback months after being expelled from the People Power Party (PPP) and boosting his standing within the conservative bloc.
The race, one of the most fiercely contested of the 14 by-elections held alongside the June 3 local elections, ended with a razor-thin margin. Han won 42.96 percent of the vote, or 35,056 ballots, edging out ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate Ha Jung-woo, who garnered 41.26 percent, by just 1,382 votes. PPP candidate and former two-term lawmaker Park Min-shik finished third with 15.76 percent.
Han hailed the result as a "historic victory" after he was projected to win around 2 a.m. during the vote count. He said his success as an independent reflected the public's desire to rebuild the conservative movement and serve as a check on the Lee Jae Myung administration.
"I just happened to be standing before that great wave of public sentiment. I will follow the will of the people and the spirit of the times," he said. "I will faithfully carry out the mission entrusted to me, always putting the people of Buk-gu, the citizens of Busan and the people of Korea first."
Independent lawmaker-elect Han Dong-hoon thanks merchants and residents at Gupo Market in Buk-gu, Busan, Thursday, as he is confirmed to win the parliamentary by-election in the city's Buk-A constituency. Yonhap
Asked about the possibility of rejoining the PPP, Han reiterated his long-held position that he would return to the party even after what he called his "unjust expulsion."
"The specific path is not what's important. There are various ways to achieve it," he said. "With such a powerful tide of public opinion, many things are bound to change. I will follow the mandate of the people."
Han also said the election had once again reminded him of the power of public sentiment.
"I am deeply aware of how formidable and profound the will of the people is," he said. "I will be a politician who keeps his eyes fixed solely on the public."
The victory marks a remarkable turnaround for the former justice minister and ex-PPP leader, who entered politics in December 2023 when he was appointed head of the then-ruling party's emergency leadership committee ahead of the 2024 general election.
After resigning as emergency committee chief following the party's disappointing performance in the election, Han returned to lead the party later that year. He stepped down again during the political turmoil triggered by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law and the ensuing impeachment crisis.
His political future appeared uncertain after he lost the conservative presidential primary and was expelled from the party in January over the so-called party bulletin board controversy. Rather than retreat from politics, Han launched an independent bid in Busan Buk-A, campaigning on both local development and the need to rebuild Korea's conservative camp.
The result is likely to intensify debate within the PPP over whether Han should be allowed to return. Supporters argue his victory demonstrates continued appeal among conservative voters, while party leaders aligned with the current leadership have opposed his reinstatement.
Ha Jung-woo, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's candidate in the parliamentary by-election for Busan's Buk-A constituency, acknowledges his defeat at his campaign office in Buk-gu, Busan, Thursday. Yonhap
The defeat is a blow for Ha, who served as the inaugural senior presidential secretary for artificial intelligence (AI) policy and future planning under the Lee administration. A former head of AI innovation at Naver Cloud and the architect behind HyperCLOVA X, Naver's flagship large language model, Ha entered the race after repeated requests from DPK leaders seeking to recruit a high-profile technocrat to counter Han. Although he initially led opinion polls, the Busan native ultimately fell short in his hometown.
The narrow loss is likely to raise questions about Ha's political future and the administration's decision to deploy one of the central figures behind its AI agenda as an election candidate. The presidential office had been reluctant to let Ha go, but the ruling party's need for a fresh yet powerful face in the district prevailed, only for the gamble to fall short by fewer than 1,400 votes.
Ha conceded defeat Thursday morning, saying he "humbly accepts" the result.
"I am deeply grateful for the support of everyone who believed in me and I congratulate Han Dong-hoon on his victory," Ha said. "I was not enough to earn the people's choice. I admit that my efforts and preparation fell short of fully winning the hearts of the residents."