Conservative Big Tent's "Four-Way Equation"... Vetoes and Caution Over Han Dong-hoon's Return

Calls for unity reignited after Oh Sehoon's acquittal
Jang Donghyuk draws a line: "We'll follow party members' decision"
Senior lawmakers including Yoon Sanghyun and Kim Kihyun volunteer as "glue"
Stalled by the Han Donghoon and Lee Junseok factor

The “big tent for conservatives” idea has failed to gain political momentum. Even the first step—independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon’s return to the People Power Party—has been held up by the complex calculations among potential opposition leaders.

According to political sources on November 9, the idea of a conservative big tent has resurfaced following Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s acquittal in the appellate trial of his case over violating the Political Funds Act. The argument is that People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, Mayor Oh, lawmaker Han, and former Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok should unite behind a single front to win the 2028 general election.

Some senior People Power Party lawmakers, including Kim Ki-hyun, Yoon Sang-hyun, and Kim Tae-ho, have stressed the need for a big tent and volunteered to act as the “glue.” Lawmaker Kim Tae-ho said, “Senior lawmakers should take the lead, and the party leadership should make a decision,” while Yoon proposed, “If that proves difficult, let’s form a council of senior lawmakers” to pursue unity.

Four conservative contenders from the People Power Party (from left): Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon, party leader Jang Donghyuk, independent lawmaker Han Donghoon, and Reform Party lawmaker Lee Junseok. Courtesy of The Asia Business Daily and Yonhap News.

But the complicated equation among the four is undermining the big-tent idea’s momentum. Leader Jang has stuck to his position that lawmaker Han should not be allowed to rejoin the party and has begun reorganizing the party’s structure. He said, “Personnel reform is the answer if we want a party that fights properly and to restore our DNA.” Rather than pursue a big tent that runs counter to the party’s support base, he is focusing on tightening his grip on the party.

Mayor Oh, a key figure in the discussions, supports unity but remains cautious about calls for lawmaker Han to rejoin the party. His stance is markedly different from when Han was expelled in January. Some say this reflects his awareness of the opposition to Han within the party. One person close to the party’s leadership faction called Mayor Oh’s call for unity “typical lip service” and said, “The chances of an alliance succeeding are low.”

Kim Jong-in, former chair of the People Power Party’s emergency committee, also appeared on YTN’s “Jang Seong-cheol’s News Myeongdang” on November 9 and said, “He [lawmaker Han] is afraid, and thinks it would be more comfortable if he were not in the party.”

Former leader Lee is also expanding his contacts with the People Power Party from outside the party, but he remains at odds with lawmaker Han. A person familiar with the opposition said, “Ultimately, the goal is to win the general and presidential elections. It depends on what each contender can demonstrate in the time remaining.”

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