Oh Se-hoon and Han Dong-hoon Step Up Engagement with People Power Party, Attend Seminars in Succession

Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul, and Han Dong-hoon, an independent lawmaker, who have both emerged as leading contenders in the conservative camp, are expanding their presence within the People Power Party. Their moves are seen as efforts to strengthen their weak foundations, which have been exposed by their long periods outside the National Assembly and the presence of opposition factions within the party. The intensifying internal power struggle, including calls for the resignation of party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, is also prompting their increased activity.

Yonhap News Agency

On June 23, Assemblyman Han attended a National Assembly forum titled "Suffrage Damage Crisis and Electoral System Reform" hosted by Assemblyman Lee Sung-kwon at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Assemblyman Han has reportedly been increasing his outreach with People Power Party lawmakers who are not part of his original support group, through meals and meetings. Recently, he even joined the 'Korea Future Innovation Forum,' a lawmakers’ study group mainly composed of former pro-Yoon members who had previously been considered his political adversaries.

Mayor Oh is also scheduled to attend an invitation-only seminar hosted by the Korea Future Innovation Forum at the National Assembly on June 24, under the theme "The Future Direction of Korean Politics." Following the election, Mayor Oh has been increasing his interaction with People Power Party lawmakers, including meetings and expressing gratitude for their support during the campaign.

The background behind both figures intensifying their engagement with the People Power Party lies in their insufficient internal support within the party. Since serving in the 16th National Assembly, Mayor Oh has mainly been active in Seoul city administration. One People Power Party lawmaker commented, "Only Assemblymembers Cho Eun-hee and Kwon Young-jin are typically classified as belonging to the so-called Oh Se-hoon faction," adding, "He has little overlap with the parliamentary group."

Assemblyman Han is backed by the so-called 'Han Dong-hoon faction,' which consists of about 20 lawmakers within the party, but his relationship with the mainstream has been strained due to conflicts between pro-Han and pro-Yoon factions, the December 3 Martial Law, the impeachment of former President Yoon Seok-youl, and his expulsion from the party. A pro-Han insider also stated, "Overcoming the rejection within the Assembly is something Assemblyman Han will have to accomplish on his own."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.