"I will devote the rest of my life to developing Buk-gu"

"The broad current of public sentiment is 'conservative normalization'"

Rep. Han Dong-hoon answers reporters' questions at a plenary session of the National Assembly in Yeouido. [Newsis]
Rep. Han Dong-hoon answers reporters' questions at a plenary session of the National Assembly in Yeouido. [Newsis]

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon said he recently spoke directly with Busan Mayor-elect Jeon Jae-soo and pledged to cooperate on developing Busan's Buk-gu district.

Speaking on KNN's "Talk & Ssul" program Sunday, Han said he had spoken with Jeon "relatively recently" and that the two agreed to work together to develop Busan and Buk-gu. "The Democratic Party took the Busan mayoral seat, but I think my winning here means a constructive check-and-balance dynamic can work," he said.

Han added that he would cooperate with anyone in the interest of properly developing Busan's Buk-gu. "I will live in Buk-gu permanently. I will devote the rest of my life to developing the district and raising its priority," he said.

The Busan Buk-gap constituency was Jeon's home district, where he had won three consecutive terms. Han won the by-election held after Jeon vacated the seat to run for Busan mayor.

On the possibility of rejoining the People Power Party, Han said few people considered it unlikely. "I believe voters sent a clear message: that the broad current of public sentiment points toward normalization, and that there is hope for the 2028 general election and presidential election only if I return and help normalize the party," he said.

Han went on to say that his victory could only be interpreted as having won the support of swing voters in the moderate center. "This is the winning formula for conservative politics to prevail in general elections and presidential elections," he said. "Would other Busan lawmakers want to follow the Jang Dong-hyeok line? No one now wants to swim against that current."

Han said there is a deadline and a golden window for rebuilding the conservative camp. "Supporters will want us to unite as quickly as possible and move forward on a new path," he said. "With that in mind, I think it will happen before long — this is not at all a matter to be resolved through personal relationships between politicians. For what it's worth, I have put all of that behind me."


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