Han Byeong-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said he "respects the judgment on Daegu's reality" regarding Daegu mayoral candidate Kim Boo-kyum's announcement that he would visit former President Park Geun-hye. However, Han dismissed calls from some quarters for restoring Park's honor, saying "there will be no such measures."
Han made the remarks during an appearance on KBS1's "Sunday Diagnosis Live" on Sunday, responding to Kim's plan to visit the former president. "People's Power Party lawmaker Yoo Young-ha said something to the effect that 'the Democratic Party should show repentance before visiting,' but the state affairs manipulation scandal is not an area for the Democratic Party's repentance," Han said. "We cannot discuss the area of restoring (former President Park's) honor."
Kim is currently pursuing an eastward strategy to win over Daegu, proposing to rename the Daegu EXCO exhibition hall to the Park Chung-hee Convention Center and expressing his willingness to pay a courtesy visit to former President Park. In response, lawmaker Yoo had said the ruling party and government should first demonstrate substantive measures to restore former President Park's honor before Kim's visit. Han effectively drew a line against this demand.
Regarding the Daegu mayoral race, Han said, "This is by no means an easy election." He added, "Actual vote shares come in lower than polling numbers. This is an election that truly requires more dedication and sincerity." He continued, "The People Power Party is currently experiencing severe internal fractures. When there is infighting, they cannot take care of the family members (the citizens of Daegu)." Han emphasized, "We will intensively raise issues about (the People Power Party's internal division), reflect on what the Democratic Party lacked in the past, and make our best efforts to sincerely reach out to Daegu." Regarding the June 3 local elections overall, he stressed humility, saying, "If we become complacent just because we are slightly ahead in polls, the public will see right through it."
On former Jeonbuk Governor Kim Gwan-young filing an injunction against the party's expulsion, Han said, "We proceeded according to due process and took the strongest possible action." He added, "A field investigation was conducted through the ethics inspection unit, the results were reported, and the decision was made unanimously by the Supreme Council, so there is absolutely no procedural problem."
Regarding opposition criticism that the Democratic Party's measures were insufficient toward lawmaker Jeon Jae-su, who faces allegations of receiving money and gifts from the Unification Church — unlike the action taken against Governor Kim — Han countered, "The police are conducting a thorough investigation, and he firmly maintains that no such thing happened." He added, "In Governor Kim's case, regardless of the amount, the entire public watched (the video). That is why we responded decisively."