Han Dong-hoon, the independent candidate-elect, was once "Yoon Suk-yeol's crown prince." He rose to prominence alongside former President Yoon Suk-yeol during their days as prosecutors on the special counsel team investigating former President Park Geun-hye's influence-peddling scandal, then went on to hold key prosecutorial posts before becoming the first justice minister in the Yoon administration and, ultimately, the leader of the ruling party. Even after entering politics, the label "Yoon Suk-yeol's man" followed him like a shadow. But the Dec. 3 martial law declaration drove a complete wedge between the two. Clashing head-on with Yoon amid the martial law and impeachment turmoil, he was eventually expelled from the People Power Party. Running as an independent in the Busan Buk-A by-election, he succeeded in a political comeback. Now he returns as "Han Dong-hoon, the alleyway politician," commanding an overwhelming fan base.
◇From "Yoon's crown prince" to alleyway politician
Han's victory is hard to view as merely an upset by an independent candidate, observers say. He won by riding grassroots sentiment without any party organization behind him.
In particular, Han largely diluted the "elite image" long cited as his weakness over the course of this campaign. In place of the hardened image formed through fierce verbal clashes in the National Assembly during his time as justice minister, and the critical perception that he was "snide," he transformed into someone who made eye contact with residents and humbly pleaded, "Just this once, give me your support."
Political circles predict this election could have a considerable impact on the future electoral landscape. The analysis is that a campaign style combining the politician, hardcore fandom and online opinion battles—sweeping up grassroots sentiment from the bottom—proved its power in an actual local election, exposing the limits of conventional methods.
◇Chose residents over organization…winning with a "legwork strategy"
"Gathering powerful people, letting them say a few words, and bragging about it to the press—until recently, that's what I was going to do."
Han said this at the opening ceremony of his campaign office last month. Contrary to expectations that pro-Han lawmakers would attend in force, those who actually filled the office were Buk-gu residents. Even at the opening ceremony, rather than pleading for his own support, Han handed the microphone to residents first. He listened to residents' stories and naturally carried on conversations.
"Someone told me, 'If you go around alone, people will think you're really alone,'" Han said. "But after meeting this person, my mind changed." The resident he mentioned was Kim Bo-gap, the so-called "sticky-rice grandmother" who sells vegetables at Gupo Market. Kim became a topic online after handing a meal of sticky rice to Han, who was campaigning on foot. The video showed Han plopping down next to a roadside tree and wolfing down the sticky rice Kim had given him.
What Han chose was not a campaign led by organizational strength but a "legwork strategy" of finding answers on the ground. His strategy worked. A merchant selling clothes at Gupo Market said, "Seeing Han go here and there, I can see he's got luck."
◇"Only Han listened"…winning hearts through "listening"
In one corner of Gupo Market is "Heesu's Snack Bar," run by the mother of Heesu, a girl with Down syndrome. Han visited early in the campaign and promised that, if elected, his first bill would be the so-called "Heesu Law." The aim is to strengthen the support system for children with intellectual disabilities.
Some criticized this as "acting like he's already won," but they could not dampen the hopes of Heesu and her mother. Heesu's mother, who joined Han's final campaign rally, said, "I met all three candidates, but Han was the only one who listened to my child's story to the end." She added, "Thanks to him calling Heesu's name even once more and holding her hand even once more, my child has changed a lot."
◇"Volunteers" flocked from across the country…the campaign was different too
Han is counted among the few politicians who have built a strong fan base over a short political career. In this election too, his fandom became a key asset propping him up amid numerous controversies.
During the campaign, volunteers with no voting rights in the area flocked to the streets of Buk-gu from across the country. Outnumbering the official campaign workers, they repeatedly bowed to passersby and vehicles on the streets. They naturally struck up conversations with local residents and appealed for support for Han. After the intensive rallies ended, some volunteers were seen cleaning up trash left behind by supporters.
Inside and outside political circles, such scenes are described as a new form of fandom politics that differs from the conventional grammar of elections. It is seen as a moment when fandom activity, once centered online, penetrated an actual local election.
