Han Dong-hoon to take over ruling party after resigning as justice minister

Outgoing Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon holds flower during his resignation ceremony at the ministry's headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Newsis

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon was appointed as interim leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), Thursday, taking the important role of leading the party's general election campaigns in April.

Han, described as the PPP's next flag-bearer, had been expected to take the role, in the view that the party needs fresh leadership to salvage itself from a pessimistic election outlook. Awaiting Han are the daunting tasks of addressing the party's internal fractures, preparing the party's election campaigns and countering the opposition's planned push to launch a special counsel to investigate first lady Kim Keon Hee.

During a press conference, PPP floor leader Rep. Yun Jae-ok said the party has appointed Han as the chairman of its emergency committee.

"The emergency committee chief, who will lead the PPP, holds the heavy responsibility to guide the party through the upcoming general elections that will determine the public livelihoods and the future of the country," Yun said.

Yun said an interim leader has to be able to reform the party and its platform, improve the quality of communications between the government and the party, reunite the country's conservative voters and gain support from the majority of the party, and Han is a person who can fulfill these conditions.

People Power Party floor leader Rep. Yun Jae-ok, center, announces Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, unseen, as the party's interim leader during a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Following the announcement, President Yoon Suk Yeol accepted his resignation, and Han held a resignation ceremony at the ministry's headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, and stepped down from the minister post.

"I wanted to do well and prepare the country's future," Han said during the ceremony. "I wanted to make my fellow citizens' life better and stand by ordinary and vulnerable people."

He told reporters after the ceremony that "I will navigate through the frontline with the compass of people's common sense and common thoughts."

Until Yoon names a new justice minister, Vice Justice Minister Lee Noh-kong will lead the ministry. Former Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office head Ghil Tae-ki has been mentioned as Han's successor.

The ruling party will hold a special committee meeting in the near future to approve Han's leadership. Given the time frame, Han is anticipated to be officially appointed within next week, and the interim leadership will likely begin its operation at the end of this month.

Han's nomination came eight days after Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon resigned as party chairman on Dec. 13, after having clashed with the party's innovation committee which had urged Kim to give up his reelection bid as a gesture of sacrifice for the party.

Before Kim agreed to the committee's suggestion, the party's fringe group members raised their opinions that Kim should step down. He did so after Rep. Chang Je-won, another party heavyweight and a close associate of Korea's president, announced that he will not run for reelection. This came as a hefty blow for Kim, who has been relying on his relationship with the president.

Han, an outspoken former prosecutor, has worked with Yoon — 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 become widely known as one of the figures who best understands Yoon. After becoming the first justice minister of the Yoon administration, he has enjoyed high popularity from conservative voters due to his neat styling, smart rhetoric and unyielding stance during arguments with opposition lawmakers.

For Han, the most immediate task is addressing the PPP's leadership turmoil and facilitating a unity between factions. The PPP's Yoon loyalists have welcomed Han's interim leadership citing his popularity and aggressive attitude, but rival factions cast worries over his lack of experience in politics.

When asked about his political inexperience, Han told reporters on Tuesday that "real crises oftentimes come when you are sparing yourself, not because of your inexperience."

Rep. Yun also said that inexperience can be "a good condition for new politics," and stated his belief that Han has already gained political experience as the justice minister.

Along with the party's unity, Han must now prepare for the general election campaign. For the elections, the party needs to form a candidate recommendation committee, and Han has to name the committee's chief, who will wield the power of selecting candidates for each constituency.

"The emergency committee should finish its preparations within this year, so that the new leadership can manage party affairs and election strategies in the New Year," Yun said. "Next year, the party's general election preparations should be spearheaded by the new leadership."

Another task for Han is the upcoming special counsel proposed to investigate first lady Kim Keon Hee.

A special counsel refers to an independent counsel appointed by the National Assembly to investigate cases involving high-ranking officials. The first lady faces allegations that she was involved in stock manipulation of one of BMW's licensed Korean dealerships.

The minor opposition Justice Party proposed a bill for a special counsel in March, and this is set to be tabled at a National Assembly plenary session on Dec. 28, upon the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) endorsement. Since the DPK holds 168 out of 300 Assembly seats, it can pass the bill singlehandedly.

If the investigation of Kim takes places, it is expected to be a major source of controversy preceding the general elections, as the investigation is likely to peak in March — just a month before voters go to the polls — with the aim of swaying public sentiment away from not only Kim but also the president and the ruling party.

Han earlier floated the idea of postponing the probe until after the general elections, in what appears to be a tactic to minimize the impact of any findings on the PPP.