Rep. Kwak Kyu-taek, floor spokesperson and nomination committee member of the People Power Party (PPP), called for the reinstatement of former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon on Thursday, prompting party leadership to publicly criticize his remarks as "inappropriate for a nomination committee member."
In a Channel A broadcast, Kwak said regarding Han's potential candidacy in the Busan Buk-gu Gap by-election, "Considering the importance of this election, Han should join the People Power Party even now." He suggested Han "compete with candidates like former Veterans Affairs Minister Park Min-sik, who is actively campaigning for the party, and unify behind a single candidate."
"Now is actually the time for reinstatement," Kwak said. "I believe it would be bigger politics for the party leadership to extend a hand first and propose that Han rejoin to compete with other candidates as our nominee."
He also advised Han directly: "Rather than continuing to run as an independent, he should show that he wants to return."
The PPP leadership publicly criticized the remarks as "inappropriate." Chief Spokesperson Park Sung-hoon said Kwak's comments were "inappropriate for a nomination committee member" and that Nomination Committee Chairman Park Deok-heum "will issue a warning."
"On behalf of the party, I apologize for remarks that could cause misunderstanding coming from a nomination committee member who should be managing fair nominations," Park added.
Floor Leader Song Eon-seok also expressed concern over Kwak's remarks, according to the chief spokesperson. "I just met with the floor leader, and he is very concerned about this," Park said. "The floor leader believes this was inappropriate for someone serving as both party spokesman and nomination committee member, regardless of personal capacity."
