Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon signaled his intent to rejoin the People Power Party (PPP) on Tuesday, saying, "Even those who oppose me consider me a highly important strategic asset or weapon for the conservatives, so why keep that weapon in reserve?"
Appearing on a YouTube channel that day, Han said, "This moment, when the Lee Jae-myung administration is descending into a mudslinging fight, is the golden time for rebuilding the conservatives." He added, "There is no need to delay this opportunity over emotional issues or the personal anxieties of politicians."
Regarding the veto sentiment against him within the party, Han said, "If there is a reason not to use the most presentable asset ahead of a major battle to rebuild the conservatives, that reason should be explained by the people who simply do not want to use it." He also pressed PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok to resign, saying, "The assessment is already over."
In political circles, some interpret Han's remarks as a sign of a shift in the atmosphere surrounding the question of his return to the party. Han, who had maintained a cautious stance on the matter, saying there was "no need to rush," has recently been openly revealing his intent to rejoin.
Indeed, Han has recently been expanding his contacts with PPP lawmakers, centered on legislators aligned with him. Both inside and outside the party, some interpret the move as a strategic step to solidify his base within the party through an early return and to seize the initiative in the next leadership race. Park Jung-hoon, a PPP lawmaker aligned with Han, also said, "He should rejoin in one or two months at the earliest, or by the end of the year at the latest," adding, "Only then can we create an environment in which Han's voice can be heard during the leadership fight."
