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The ruling People Power Party has officially recruited Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon to serve as its interim leader on Thursday. After Han agreed to take over as interim party leader, President Yoon Suk-yeol officially relieved him of his duties as justice minister. By naming Han, a close ally of Yoon and a former prosecutor, to lead the party, the People Power Party has solidified the presidential office’s direct control over it ahead of the 2024 general election in April. Critics are referring to the arrangement as a “prosecutor president with a prosecutor party leader.” Han will be officially appointed by the party’s national committee on Tuesday.

“After aggregating the opinions we’ve collected so far, we decided on Minister Han to be the party’s interim leader,” said Yun Jae-ok, the ruling party’s floor leader and acting leader, during a press conference on the day of Han’s appointment.

“The new leader needs to meet the people’s expectations for change, reform and a new future. Not only should he lead reform within the party but reform within the National Assembly – an overhaul of our country’s political culture,” Yun continued.

“As the party’s youngest and most refreshing interim leader, Han is surely the person to realize this vision,” he concluded.

Yun directly approached Han, 50, on Thursday with the offer to become the party’s interim leader. Han accepted the offer, and Yoon immediately relieved Han of his duties as justice minister.

After agreeing to take the reins of the party, Han addressed reporters at a press conference at the government complex in Gwacheon at around 5 pm.

“In such pressing circumstances, I feel more of a responsibility to fulfill my duty to my colleagues, to the people of Korea, and to my country, than I feel some vague confidence that I will do a good job,” Han said.

“If it’s the end of the ninth inning and you have two outs and two strikes, you have to give your best swing when the pitch comes in, no matter how unideal it is. Regardless of whether it ends up being a ball or a strike, you have to swing, or you’ll regret it,” Han added.

“I will pave the road to the future alongside my sensible colleagues and the citizens of Korea,” he declared.

“I will lend an ear to criticism just as eagerly as I do to support, and I will continue on this path to the very end.”

The People Power Party immediately began the process of Han’s appointment as interim party leader. The party’s Supreme Council held an emergency video call meeting at 2:50 pm on the day Han agreed to take over the party. They also scheduled a meeting of the party’s national committee for Tuesday. The national committee will hold a remote vote on Han’s appointment through an automatic response system (ARS). Yun, the party’s acting leader, is expected to conduct the official appointment. Former party leader Kim Gi-hyeon formally resigned on Dec. 13. His position will be filled after a 13-day vacancy.

“To convince the people of his claim that he’s never offered anybody complete obedience, Han needs to demonstrate that he will not hand nominations [for the general election] to former prosecutors or people that are loyal to the Yongsan presidential office, and that he will not do everything in his power to block a special prosecutor from being assigned to Kim Keon-hee,” said Democratic Party spokesperson Han Min-su.

By Son Hyun-soo, staff reporter; Sun Dam-eun, staff reporter

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