Seoul, South Korea – – Former People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon held a large-scale rally in Seoul on , drawing an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 supporters just ten days after his expulsion from the party. The event, held at the Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium, signals a deepening rift within the PPP as it prepares for upcoming local elections in June.
Han’s expulsion, finalized on , stemmed from allegations of opinion manipulation on the party’s online bulletin board by his family members. The PPP’s ethics committee accused his family of posting defamatory comments about former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife. Han has acknowledged his family’s actions but framed the expulsion as politically motivated, calling the accusations “fabricated” and “political retaliation.”
The rally itself took on the atmosphere of a pop concert, with attendees waving glow sticks and photographs of Han. Approximately ten PPP lawmakers considered close allies of Han, including Go Dong-jin, Kim Seong-won, Kim Ye-ji, Park Jeong-hoon, and Bae Hyeon-jin, were in attendance, alongside former party officials Kim Jong-hyuk and Yoon Hee-seok. Han addressed the crowd for roughly three hours, delivering a scathing critique of the current PPP leadership, specifically targeting party leader Jang Dong-hyeok.
Han accused Jang of orchestrating a “false narrative” surrounding the online bulletin board controversy, claiming Jang falsely asserted the issue was about “opinion manipulation.” He further alleged that Jang was completing a project initiated in 2024 – dubbed the “Kim Ok-gyun Project” – which reportedly aimed to oust him from the party leadership. This reference alludes to historical political maneuvering within the PPP, suggesting a long-standing power struggle.
The former party leader also warned against the rise of “extremists” within the PPP, specifically referencing those who supported a controversial declaration of martial law and those advocating for a return to policies associated with Yoon Suk Yeol. He characterized this trend as a “dangerous regression” and asserted that the only way to prevent it was through the active participation of a broad base of supporters.
Han acknowledged that his family had posted critical comments about the former president and his wife on the party’s online forum, stating he would have advised them against it had he known. He emphasized that such incidents would not be repeated.
The event’s ticket prices – ranging from 45,000 to 79,000 won (approximately $35 to $60 USD) – drew some criticism, which Han addressed directly, stating he would not personally profit from the event. He did not, however, address speculation regarding a potential run in the upcoming June 3rd local elections.
The rally took place just three days after Jang Dong-hyeok publicly challenged his critics to put their political careers on the line, refusing to step down as party leader. This escalating tension underscores the deep divisions within the PPP. According to sources within the party, Jang is focused on internal cohesion, while Han is attempting to mobilize external support to challenge the current leadership.
Reactions to the rally were mixed. One regional party leader dismissed it as a self-serving attempt by Han to maintain relevance, while a supporter within Han’s faction defended it as a necessary effort to rally support against what they perceive as a misguided direction for the party. The internal conflict is expected to continue to shape the PPP’s strategy leading up to the local elections, potentially impacting their chances of success.
Han’s expulsion prevents him from running under the PPP banner in the June local elections, as well as any subsequent by-elections, the 2028 general election, and the 2030 presidential election, unless the Supreme Council reverses its decision. This effectively sidelines a prominent figure within the conservative opposition party at a critical juncture.
