If Han Dong-hoon Had Entered the Scene a Year Later... Rising Concerns Within the People Power Party

Internal criticism within the People Power Party (PPP) is growing regarding Han Dong-hoon, the party’s leader. Concerns are mounting over his communication issues and lack of policy achievements. There are also calls for him to align his messaging more closely with the party and government, especially given his status as an "outside" figure with no parliamentary seat.

Communication Failures and Policy Struggles

On September 16th, Han visited a fire station in Seoul ahead of the Chuseok holiday, where he spoke with reporters about ongoing political tensions. He reiterated his previous stance that there should be no preconditions for launching a bipartisan consultative body between the ruling and opposition parties. Han had previously suggested increasing the number of medical school admissions, but the Presidential Office rejected the proposal. Since then, Han has urged the medical community to participate in discussions and expressed a willingness to consider their demands, but his failure to coordinate these statements with party leadership weakened his position. A PPP official noted that Han's messaging as a mediator was premature and backfired.

Criticism of Han's Leadership

Inside the party, some feel that Han’s urgency is driven by his lack of communication. A PPP lawmaker commented, "Han, as the party leader, should focus on targeting the opposition, not highlighting conflicts within the party." Others noted that Han's public messaging is often made without sufficient internal consultation, causing frustration among party members. Some even speculate that his rise to leadership might have been better timed if delayed by a year.

Despite Han’s strong support within the party—highlighted by his 63% approval rating at the party convention—some argue that he misunderstands what this support means. A senior PPP member remarked, "Han needs to focus on reforming the 'rules of Yeouido (politics)', not overturning the entire system." They further emphasized that politics requires personal connections and cooperation, unlike Han's former role in the prosecution. Critics also suggested that Han is more focused on personal ambitions than representing the party’s broader interests.

Declining Popularity

Han’s approval ratings have declined since his appointment as party leader. According to a Korea Gallup survey conducted from September 3rd to 5th, Han's suitability as a future presidential candidate dropped to 14%, down 5 percentage points in just five weeks. In contrast, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, saw a slight increase in support.

Upcoming By-Elections: A Critical Test

The October 16th by-elections are expected to be a key moment for the People Power Party under Han's leadership. The party’s leadership has decided to delegate candidate selection to local party committees rather than central leadership, signaling a strategy to minimize blame in case of defeat. However, there are growing concerns that Han’s leadership might be undermined if the results are unfavorable. A party official noted, "The downfall of Kim Gi-hyeon’s leadership began with the defeat in the Gangseo District election. Han won't be able to escape responsibility if the results are poor."

3 line summary for you

1. Han Dong-hoon faces internal criticism for poor communication and lack of policy achievements since becoming the leader of the People Power Party.
2. His approval ratings have dropped, and there are concerns that he is prioritizing personal ambitions over party unity.
3. The October 16th by-elections are seen as a critical test for his leadership, with potential consequences if the party performs poorly.

Subscribe!! Your likes and comments mean a lot to me and are a great support.

Starting Google Play App Distribution! "Tester Share" for Recruiting 20 Testers for a Closed Test.

Tester Share [테스터쉐어] - Google Play 앱