Bae Hyun-jin: PPP Must Nominate or Support Han Dong-hoon, He's 'Effectively Our Candidate'

From the perspective of a journalist at the Hankyoreh, the political maneuvering surrounding the Busan North Gap by-election reveals deep fissures within the People Power Party (PPP). Rep. Bae Hyun-jin's public call for the party to fully back Han Dong-hoon, even suggesting a "no-nomination" strategy, underscores the ongoing internal power struggles and the significant influence of certain factions. Han, despite his expulsion, remains a potent figure, and his potential candidacy is clearly a major concern for party leadership.

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We should either not nominate anyone or support former interim leader Han Dong-hoon, who is effectively a candidate of our People Power Party.

The sentiment on the ground, as described by Rep. Bae, appears to be a mix of strong support for Han and deep dissatisfaction with the current party leadership, exemplified by Chairman Jang Dong-hyuk. The anecdote about the taxi driver’s strong reaction against Jang highlights a palpable anger among some party loyalists, who feel alienated by recent decisions and internal conflicts. This suggests that the party's ability to win back the Busan North Gap seat hinges not only on Han's popularity but also on its capacity to resolve these internal disputes and regain the trust of its base.

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The grassroots sentiment in Busan was very favorable to candidate Han Dong-hoon.

Furthermore, the criticism directed at Chairman Jang's recent trip to the United States, described as a "bizarre visit" and potentially costly, adds another layer to the internal dissent. The suggestion that the trip was related to party audits and possibly linked to controversial figures or theories, such as those surrounding election integrity, raises serious questions about the party's priorities and judgment. This internal turmoil and the controversial nature of some party figures' actions and associations are critical elements that local voters are keenly observing, and which Western media might overlook in favor of a more generalized analysis of the political landscape.

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If the central party resolves risks and supports candidate Han Dong-hoon, we can win back the Busan North Gap seat, which we lost to the Democratic Party.