Feud intensifies daily over Han Dong-hoon's return to PPP

Jul 16, 2026, 09:29 am

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People Power Party Representative Ahn Cheol-soo holds a press conference at the National Assembly on July 12 to express his strong opposition to the return of independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon to the party. / Yonhap

Internal resistance within the People Power Party against independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon is rapidly rising to the surface. Following party leader Jang Dong-hyeok drawing a clear line against Han's potential return, heavyweight lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo has also launched a public critique. This pushback is gaining momentum, fueled by recent opinion polls indicating that Han's return would not assist in party reform or the reorganization of the conservative bloc.

Appearing on the YouTube channel PenNMike TV on the 15th, Jang criticized the justification for Han's return. "What kind of logic is it to demand a return to the party after pushing the party and Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho into a corner, all while portraying himself as the hero who blocked martial law and led the impeachment?" Jang said.

Ahn has also ramped up his offensive against Han and the pro-Han faction. Writing on Facebook, Ahn urged, "If Han intends to form a new party, I highly advise him to exclude the pro-Han 'Yeouido wreckers.' This disgraceful behavior will eventually drive him into a dead end."

Some within the party point out that the issue of Han's return has failed to gain traction as a primary agenda item. Even the reformist party group, Alternative and Future, which has consistently demanded Jang's resignation, remains heavily focused on holding the leadership accountable rather than presenting a concrete blueprint for party reform or conservative reorganization following Han's potential return.

Public sentiment is also turning unfavorable toward Han's return. According to a survey of 2,019 adults nationwide conducted by Jowon C&I on behalf of Straight News from July 11 to 13, 57.2 percent of respondents replied that Han's return to the party would not help reorganize the conservative bloc. Notably, negative responses reached 58.4 percent even among conservative supporters.

According to multiple party officials, there is a growing consensus that calling for Jang's resignation alone is no longer sufficient, and that the party must present clear alternative solutions and a path forward for reform. "The issue of Han's return is unlikely to surface as a major agenda item anytime soon," a leadership official remarked. "Since Han himself is not presenting any clear alternatives, our focus right now should be on fighting the opposition, such as pushing for National Election Commission reform and blocking the abolition of supplementary investigative powers, to show our strength as a true opposition party."

Lee Che-ri

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