Han Dong-hoon, an independent candidate running in the by-election for the National Assembly seat in Busan's Buk-A district, reiterated his commitment to rebuilding the conservative movement on Wednesday, declaring he would "return to the People Power Party (PPP) through the strength of citizens." Han aims to use a victory in this election as a turning point for restoring common-sense conservative politics.
In an interview with Seoul Economic Daily, Han said, "Even when I was unjustly expelled, I promised I would surely return," adding, "I will keep that promise." Han was expelled from the PPP in January this year over allegations of opinion manipulation on the party's member bulletin board.
Regarding the meaning of his return to the party, Han stressed, "My return to the PPP does not mean simply adding one Han Dong-hoon to the line of the Jang Dong-hyuk faction, which has gone against public sentiment and rejected common sense." He continued, "It means becoming a PPP that completely severs ties with the 'Yoon Again' line and crosses the sea of martial law and impeachment." He argued that since the PPP has yet to clearly draw a line with the Yoon Again forces, he is the right person to rebuild conservatism.
"There is a considerable amount of truth in the PPP's criticism of the Lee Jae-myung administration," he said. "But the problem is that the public responds with 'You're the ones who imposed martial law,' so the message doesn't resonate." He added, "I have walked the exact opposite path of the current PPP leadership faction's line. If I am elected, citizens will be confirming that the path of conservative rebuilding I have led is the right one."
Han ruled out the possibility of a conservative candidate unification. "Looking at recent polling trends, I have overtaken Democratic Party of Korea candidate Ha Jeong-woo even in a three-way race, and I am widening the gap with PPP candidate Park Min-sik," he said confidently. "Even in a two-way race, I can beat candidate Ha, but Park is a candidate who cannot win."
He also actively rebutted criticism that running in Buk-A is a stepping stone for his return to central politics. "I am becoming a stepping stone for Buk-gu's leap forward," he said. "If there is ever a case where I leave Buk-gu, it would only be to serve the entire Republic of Korea." Ahead of the full campaign phase, the candidate moved his residence to Busan's Buk-gu and has been broadening his contact with residents, in an apparent move to overcome criticism of being an "outsider candidate."
Han characterized the period when Democratic Party Busan mayoral candidate Jeon Jae-soo and candidate Park served as lawmakers in the area as "the lost 20 years," and presented a regional development blueprint. His vision is to transform the Nakdong riverside into a nationwide landmark.
"I will build a K-Complex Arena along the Nakdong River where performances, exhibitions, and athletic activities can be held year-round," he explained. "It will create jobs in performance, content, and tourism for young people, and serve as a catalyst for revitalizing the local commercial district for self-employed business owners."
He added, "I will create an 'Eco Sky Trail' that connects the ecological parks scattered along the Nakdong River into one. By linking it to Gupo Market, tourists visiting the K-Complex Arena and the Eco Sky Trail will naturally come to Gupo Market."
Q&A
— What is the meaning of this election and your resolve?
△ This election will determine whether we can reclaim Buk-gu's lost 20 years and whether we can achieve conservative rebuilding. If I cannot win here, Buk-gu's lost 20 years will be extended, and there is no telling how long the conservatives' lost years will become. In that sense, I have no freedom to lose; I only have the responsibility to win. I will give my all to fulfill that responsibility. I have urged those who are with me to be even more humble in fulfilling that responsibility.
— Do you see any remaining possibility of conservative candidate unification?
△ I have consistently said that in the face of the great public desire to develop Buk-gu, rebuild conservatism, and check the Democratic Party administration's runaway behavior, political-engineering issues are merely a dependent variable. Looking at recent polling trends, I have overtaken candidate Ha Jeong-woo even in a three-way race, and candidate Park Min-sik is a distant third. Even in a two-way race, I can beat candidate Ha Jeong-woo, but Park Min-sik is a candidate who cannot win. That is why I am saying this. The only candidate who can properly defeat the Democratic Party is Han Dong-hoon. There is no one else. Concentrate your support on Han Dong-hoon. I will smash the Democratic Party's runaway course.
— You attach the meaning of "completing the conservative rebuild" to your election. What does winning this election mean for rebuilding the conservative camp?
△ Conservative rebuilding is absolutely necessary now. There is a considerable amount of truth in the PPP's criticism of the Lee Jae-myung administration. But even when they say something correct, it becomes "You're the ones who imposed martial law," and it doesn't reach the public. On top of that, by refusing to sever ties with Yoon Again, acts of going against public sentiment and rejecting common sense have piled up. I have walked the exact opposite path of the current PPP leadership faction's line. I immediately stopped the martial law, did not avoid the process of setting things right after the martial law, and have continuously cried out that we must follow the path of public sentiment and common sense. The PPP expelled me for that, but if I am elected, citizens will be confirming that the path of conservative rebuilding I have led is right. To check the runaway of the Lee Jae-myung administration and protect the balance of the Republic of Korea, we must achieve conservative rebuilding by restoring conservative politics grounded in the constitution, facts, and common sense — a just and capable conservative politics. That is the reason I must win this time.
— If elected, do you plan to rejoin the PPP?
△ Even when I was unjustly expelled, I promised I would surely return. I will keep that promise. I will return to the PPP through the strength of citizens. The PPP I return to will of course be different from the current PPP. My return to the PPP does not mean simply adding one Han Dong-hoon to the line of the Jang Dong-hyuk leadership faction's PPP — which has gone against public sentiment and rejected common sense — to gain one more National Assembly seat. It means becoming a PPP that completely severs ties with the Yoon Again line and crosses the sea of martial law and impeachment.
— What is your winning strategy for this election?
△ First, "Ha Jeong-woo and Park Min-sik's Buk-gu" and "Han Dong-hoon's Buk-gu" are completely different. Candidates Ha and Park, as if reading from the same script, claim that the problem with Buk-gu is that there are too many outsiders. What Buk-gu needs is the opposite. Gupo Market and other parts of Buk-gu must become nationwide attractions that draw more "outsiders" from across the country. Only then will Buk-gu become a place where money and people gather. That is why the Nakdong Golden Belt concept emerged. While candidates Ha and Park lock the doors of Buk-gu, I will fling the doors of Buk-gu wide open and change the future. And "the conservatives when Han Dong-hoon wins" and "the conservatives when Han Dong-hoon does not win" are also completely different. I cannot forget the words of an elderly resident I met locally, who lamented, "These days I can't watch the news; please let me watch the news." If I win, the current incoherent opposition party will be completely transformed. But if the opposite happens, it will continue to be extended. How long will we keep being dragged around and only losing? I will make it so that you can watch the news with peace of mind.
— There is criticism in some quarters that running in Buk-A is a stepping stone to advance into central politics.
△ It is the exact opposite. Buk-gu is not becoming a stepping stone for my politics; I am becoming a stepping stone for Buk-gu's leap forward. And right now, our Buk-gu absolutely needs a stepping stone like me. This is to reclaim Buk-gu's "lost 20 years." Now is the perfect opportunity to make our Buk-gu's priorities — which have always been left to the back burner — the top priority, and to make Buk-gu a true "gap" (the dominant one). That opportunity cannot be revived by someone who comes out just to wear the badge once, hides behind their predecessor's back, and cannot even speak their own thoughts. It can only be revived by choosing me, who has a clear goal of changing the future of the Republic of Korea. That is because I have a desperate reason to prove myself through results, starting from our Buk-gu, for that goal. So that Buk-gu can step on me and rise high, I will gladly become Buk-gu's stepping stone.
— You have strongly raised concerns about the special prosecutor bill for withdrawing prosecutions being pushed by the Democratic Party. What is the biggest problem?
△ The objective, content, method, and rationale are all wrong. In a word, it is grounds for impeachment on the level of martial law. President Lee himself knows he is guilty
