Han offers first apology over party dispute

Jan 19, 2026, 07:53 am

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Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon speaks at a press conference on Jan. 14 after the party’s ethics committee decided to expel him. / Yonhap

Former Han Dong-hoon, a onetime leader of South Korea’s People Power Party, issued his first apology on January 18 over a party bulletin board controversy tied to disciplinary action against him, while maintaining that the punishment itself amounts to political retaliation.

In a 2-minute, 5-second video message posted on Facebook, Han said, “As a responsible politician who once led the party, I sincerely apologize to the public and to party members for causing concern as this situation has escalated.” He stopped short of explicitly addressing the bulletin board issue that involved his family and formed the basis of the party ethics committee’s decision to expel him.

Han reiterated that the discipline was “a clear fabrication and political revenge,” but added that he felt compelled to speak separately to voters and party members. “With a critical election ahead—one in which we must overcome martial law and rein in the excesses of a Democratic Party government—I worry that scenes like this will cause many to turn away from our party,” he said.

He went on to say that while party leaders may “strip me of my party membership through political retaliation,” they cannot take away “the spirit and future of the party I love.” “For the people of South Korea and for true conservatism, I will continue to walk together to the end with courage and dedication,” he added.

The message marked Han’s first official statement since Jang Dong-hyuk, the current party leader, began a hunger strike at the National Assembly on January 15 demanding acceptance of a dual special prosecutor bill. Although Han did not directly mention the bulletin board controversy, his expression of regret as a former party leader has been widely interpreted as an indirect apology.

Supporters welcomed the gesture. Lawmaker Park Jeong-hoon, considered part of Han’s political camp, shared the video and wrote that “a sincere apology requires great courage,” adding that despite what he described as “unimaginable illegality” in the audit and disciplinary process, Han’s decision could become “a foundation for normalizing the party.”

Critics, however, questioned whether the apology went far enough, noting Han’s failure to explicitly address the core controversy. Party spokesperson Choi Bo-yoon told reporters that a proposal has been made to conduct formal verification procedures and said it remains to be seen whether Han will submit to such scrutiny following his Facebook message.

#Han Dong-hoon #People Power Party #party discipline #ethics committee