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Han Dong-hoon: 'Impeach President Lee If Prosecution Withdrawal Pursued'
🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Han Dong-hoon: 'Impeach President Lee If Prosecution Withdrawal Pursued'

From Dong-A Ilbo · (10m ago) Korean Critical tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon stated that President Lee Jae-myung should be impeached if he attempts to withdraw his prosecution.
  • Han declared his intention to lead the charge for impeachment if elected to the National Assembly in the upcoming by-election.
  • He also criticized the main opposition Democratic Party's use of a special prosecutor and accused some within his own party of prioritizing internal power struggles over confronting the president.

Han Dong-hoon, former interim leader of the People Power Party, has issued a strong warning, stating that President Lee Jae-myung should face impeachment if he pursues the withdrawal of his ongoing prosecution. Han made this declaration during a press conference announcing his candidacy for a by-election in Busan's Buk-gap constituency, positioning himself as a key figure in the opposition to President Lee's administration. He vowed to actively campaign for impeachment should he secure a seat in the National Assembly, framing the election as a crucial battleground to 'stop the rampage' of the current leadership.

President Lee Jae-myung should be impeached if he actually pursues the withdrawal of his prosecution.

— Han Dong-hoonStating his position on President Lee Jae-myung's potential legal actions.

During his announcement, Han directly addressed supporters, asserting, 'We are the people who can impeach and remove President Lee if he withdraws his prosecution.' His campaign appears to be built on a platform of direct confrontation with the president, challenging the legitimacy of legal proceedings against him. Han also addressed his own recent experience with a travel ban related to a special prosecutor's investigation, alleging that the Democratic Party used the prosecutor as a 'pawn' to restrict his movement. He defiantly stated, 'Let them arrest me or do whatever they want,' as his travel ban was set to expire.

I will take the lead. If I win this election and enter the National Assembly, I will stop that rampage.

— Han Dong-hoonVowing to lead the political opposition if elected.

Adding another layer to the political maneuvering, Han did not shy away from criticizing elements within his own party. He accused a faction within the People Power Party of being more focused on defeating him than on challenging President Lee, suggesting that these internal conflicts have emboldened the president. Han believes that his victory in the upcoming by-election is essential not only to counter President Lee's actions but also to address what he perceives as the 'regressive' behavior of certain party leaders. His candidacy signals a potential realignment within the conservative bloc, prioritizing a direct challenge to the incumbent administration over traditional party politics.

The Democratic Party used the special prosecutor, a subordinate, to impose a travel ban on me.

— Han Dong-hoonAccusing the opposition party of political maneuvering.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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