Is PPP chief emulating the president's path to power?

Han Dong-hoon, interim leader of the ruling People Power Party, speaks during a meeting at the party office in Yeouido, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Yoon Suk Yeol’s road to triumph in the 2022 presidential election began in September 2019 when he publicly criticized the office of Moon Jae-in ― his former boss and predecessor ― for attempting to intervene in an investigation targeting a former key member of his Cabinet.

In less than two months, the new prosecutor general became the face of justice, who would never compromise his integrity ― a political brand that made him become the next president.

When Han Dong-hoon, interim leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), refused to quit earlier this week despite pressure from Yoon’s close aides over his handling of controversies surrounding the first lady, many voters recalled that success story of Yoon.

In the face of calls for resignation, Han vowed to stay on, saying he would continue to “work for the people” until his term expires in May. Asked about public outcry over the secretly filmed footage showing first lady Kim Keon Hee receiving a Dior bag from a pastor in September 2022, Han said his position remained the same ― that “it is a matter of public concern.”

Facing the same question on Thursday after meeting Yoon at the scene of a fire incident two days ago, Han reiterated that stance and dismissed calls to fire Kim Kyung-yul from the PPP’s 11-member leadership committee. Kim is the one who fueled the discord over the bag issue by comparing the first lady to Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France before the French Revolution, who was executed for crimes against the state in 1793.

All this presents both political risks and opportunities for Han ahead of the general elections on April 10, according to experts on Friday. By expressing such principles loud and clear, he could win over more independent voters and create his own political brand as the country’s possible next leader. But by doing so too much, he could lose the most powerful supporter, they said.

President Yoon Suk Yeol greets People Power Party interim leader Han Dong-hoon during a visit to inspect the site of a fire at a traditional market in Seocheon County, South Chungcheong, Tuesday. Courtesy of presidential office

“Whether Yoon intended it or not, he helped Han break away from the public image that he works for the president. Han is now viewed more as an independent figure who may repeat the kind of political success Yoon achieved previously,” Lee Joon-han, a professor of political science at Incheon National University, told The Korea Times.

“If Han can manage to win the upcoming elections, he will cement his position as the new leader.”

Suspicions surrounding the first lady, including the bag and other issues that could well lead to parliamentary inquiries, would continue to remain a sensitive issue within the PPP. But for now, the ruling bloc now appears united behind the leadership of Han, whose popularity surges in recent polls.

According to a survey released on Friday by Gallup Korea, a pollster, Han’s approval rating as the PPP leader was 52 percent. The figure was far higher than that of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea with 35 percent as well as Yoon with 31 percent.

In another survey conducted between Jan. 22-24 amid tensions between Han and Yoon, the PPP chief’s approval rating was 47 percent, compared with Lee’s 35 percent and Yoon’s 31 percent.

“Those results show that the ruling party’s winning strategy should be to pit Lee against Han rather than the president,” said Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University.

This could mean a change in power structure within the ruling party as well as the National Assembly, according to experts. Some might promote themselves “pro-Han” in their efforts to win the party’s nominations, they said.

Experts believe it is too early to predict how all this would redefine the relationship between Yoon and Han as well as how that factor would affect the president-PPP relationship in the future.

“Much of it depends on the results of the elections,” said Cho Jin-man, a politics professor at Duksung Women's University.

But they said it is not a good sign for Lee Jun-seok, who is trying to brand himself as a young conservative leader as the chief of a new party.

“Han could draw young people who would otherwise vote for him,” said the Incheon National University scholar.