Ahn Cheol-soo Launches Fresh Attack on Han Dong-hoon Over Court Testimony Dispute: "Do Not Even Think About Returning to Our Party"

People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo has firmly opposed the return of independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon to the party, stating, "I hope you do not even think about coming near our party anymore." This comes amid an ongoing dispute between the two over Han's recent court testimony regarding the December 3 martial law declaration.

During a press conference at the National Assembly on July 12, Ahn stated, "Han was certainly not the only one who stopped the martial law, so why must the history of that day be reduced to a heroic narrative of Han Dong-hoon alone?"

Previously, on July 8, Ahn appeared as a witness in the trial of Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho, who is charged with obstructing the vote to lift the emergency martial law. During his testimony, Ahn said, "I understand that the person who first instructed People Power Party lawmakers to gather at the party headquarters, rather than the National Assembly, was then-party leader Han Dong-hoon." Han strongly refuted this, labeling it "false propaganda."

In response, Ahn criticized Han and his pro-Han faction lawmakers, saying, "They have attacked, mocked, and denounced a senior member of their own party for testifying to the facts in court. Defining party colleagues as enemies and focusing on public opinion warfare is defamation of an individual and a clear act of harming the party."

Ahn further emphasized, "If it is this bad while Han is outside the party, it is obvious what will happen if he returns. The entire party will fall into factional conflict and a wasteful civil war, leading to a catastrophic situation where we cannot even dream of winning the general election."

Regarding reports that the party's ethics committee is reviewing disciplinary motions against some pro-Han lawmakers who directly or indirectly supported the independent candidate Han during his election, Ahn stated, "There needs to be some level of resolution regarding the issue of our party's lawmakers supporting an independent candidate when our party already has an officially nominated candidate."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.