Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon joined the National Assembly research group "Global Diplomacy and Security Forum," led mainly by People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers, on Tuesday, prompting PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok to immediately leave the group chat, it was confirmed. The move has drawn interpretations that Jang may have shown discomfort over Han's efforts to broaden his contacts with PPP lawmakers following his by-election victory.
According to political circles, Han joined the National Assembly research group Global Diplomacy and Security Forum, headed by four-term PPP lawmaker Yoon Jae-ok. After receiving a proposal from Yoon's side, Han expressed his intention to participate last week and became a full member on the day.
The Global Diplomacy and Security Forum is one of the National Assembly's leading research groups, holding monthly discussions and connecting them to legislative activities. Centered on its head, Yoon, and research director lawmaker Kim Gun of the PPP, about 20 lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties serve as full members, including Kim Young-bae of the Democratic Party and Lee Ju-young of the Reform Party.
After being invited to the forum's Telegram group chat, Han left a greeting: "Thank you for inviting me. This is Han Dong-hoon." Immediately afterward, Jang left the chat room. However, Jang has not withdrawn from the forum itself as of now. Other party leadership members who participate in the forum reportedly showed no particular reaction.
Inside and outside the party, interpretations have emerged that Jang may have been conscious of Han, who has recently been raising his profile within the PPP. As calls for Jang's resignation continue within the party, the move is said to reflect uneasy sentiment over the situation in which Han is being mentioned as a candidate for the next party leadership. Since winning the by-election, Han has emphasized the need for a "swift return to the party" and has increased his contacts with party lawmakers. He had earlier also joined the Future Innovation Forum, led mainly by pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Suk-yeol) figures.
Meanwhile, Han was assigned to the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts among the National Assembly standing committees for the latter half of the term. Han's side explained that "the aim is to examine national policy from a macro perspective, as these areas broadly cover not only diplomacy and security but also human rights and unification issues."
