KOR
-Han Dong-hoon's language? Strong against attacks... 'Strong against the strong, weak to the weak'
-Jang Dong-hyeok's "'Oppa' clouds the essence"? A leisurely remark
-Explosive power of 'oppa and poison'... At a time like this, Jang should demand a special counsel
-Conservative base, support for Han rises... Criticism mounts over what Jang is doing
-Democratic Party's 'Han Dong-hoon Gate'? An own goal
-Exposing whistleblower, heavy legal responsibility must be held
-Jang Dong-hyeok taking it outdoors? An opportunity to counterattack, is now the time to beat drums?
-If a national convention were held now, Han Dong-hoon would beat Jang Dong-hyeok
-Choo Mi-ae's pointed remarks? It means respect for Lee has weakened
■ Broadcast: SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show (FM 103.5 MHz 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM)
■ Date: September 14, 2026 (Monday)
■ Host: Attorney Kim Tae-hyun
■ Guest: Cho Gab-je, CEO of Chogabje.com
[Kim Tae-hyun] Time to diagnose the political arena through conservative eyes, with Cho Gab-je, CEO of Chogabje.com. Hello.
[Cho Gab-je] Hello.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Today (September 14), the confirmation hearing phase has begun. Candidate Yong Hye-in, one of the two figures targeted by the opposition, voluntarily withdrew. That means all firepower from the opposition's perspective will now be concentrated on Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won. What do you think? Looking at how they are handling things now, do you think the People Power Party will be able to sharply and properly vet nominee Kim Seung-won and other Cabinet nominees?
[Cho Gab-je] I think it will be difficult.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Why is that?
[Cho Gab-je] Because Representative Han Dong-hoon moved so far ahead, the public has grown accustomed to that level, so they would need to deliver a scoop that is even more shocking than that.
[Kim Tae-hyun] That would make sense.
[Cho Gab-je] But that doesn't seem likely to happen.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Then looking at yesterday (September 13), Representative Joo Jin-woo also raised various allegations regarding an association in nominee Kim Seung-won's constituency. Are you saying it isn't gaining attention because it lacks the explosive power of the new drug lobbying allegations raised by Representative Han Dong-hoon?
[Cho Gab-je] But where Han Dong-hoon's explosive power comes from is that he connects facts with legal principles. Furthermore, he moves very swiftly while coming up with highly provocative phrasing. 'Oppa, poison, lobbying'—and when Party Leader Kim Min-seok said he would expel him, he fired back with remarks like 'a person who pocketed 900 million won, accompanied by female hostesses,' and things like that.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Yes.
[Cho Gab-je] Those words might sound radical, but they were in response to talk of expelling him. And lately, he has said things like 'if you bite me, I'll pull out your teeth.' How should I put it—many in the public applaud this, while others might get angry. But the level of that language has risen so high. That is why I believe this round of hearings will struggle to meet the public's elevated expectations.
[Kim Tae-hyun] That brings up the criticism heard from some corners. Some say Representative Han Dong-hoon has recently used harsh wording, asking if he is going too far, or saying he looks like the prosecutor he once was, or that a sniper cannot become a major politician. What is your view on those critical perspectives?
[Cho Gab-je] When the other side speaks strongly, he responds just as strongly. When playing with children, he uses gentle words, and he will kneel down before an elderly woman. But when an attack against him comes strongly, he adds something extra and returns fire. So it does not really appear that radical to me. He also made a point worth noting: politics is not subject to the Criminal Procedure Code. Politics must be conducted in political language. In other words, you have to fire direct hits.
[Kim Tae-hyun] But he emphasizes 'oppa,' as in 'Oppa Gate' and 'Poison Gate.' Representative Han Dong-hoon emphasizing 'oppa' means that this is the essence of the matter, right?
[Cho Gab-je] That is right.
[Kim Tae-hyun] He is saying a private relationship between an older brother and younger sister crossed into the public sphere. But Representative Jang Dong-hyeok criticizes this, saying that emphasizing 'oppa' could blur the essence of the dismissal of charges. How do you see it? Who is right?
[Cho Gab-je] That is a leisurely remark.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Party Leader Jang's remark?
[Cho Gab-je] Yes. Representative Han Dong-hoon is consistently articulating a strategy: nominee Kim Seung-won was nominated to facilitate the dismissal of charges, so stopping this will make that dismissal difficult, and then he launches his attack. At the same time, the terms 'oppa,' 'poison,' and 'lobbying' blend together, creating explosive power. But if Party Leader Jang Dong-hyeok is going to criticize that, he should instead be demanding a special counsel, which is far more important. The People Power Party is in a very favorable environment right now. There is overwhelming public support. And Han Dong-hoon, a sharp attacker, is leading from the front. Then they ought to take it toward a special counsel.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Rather take this toward that?
[Cho Gab-je] Yes.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Party Leader Jang should be the one saying that?
[Cho Gab-je] Whether a special counsel happens or not is not Han Dong-hoon's responsibility. That is Party Leader Jang Dong-hyeok's responsibility. If he cannot secure a special counsel even in this kind of environment, that is incompetence.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Looking at yesterday (September 13), Party Leader Jang posted on Facebook something that could be viewed as defending Representative Han Dong-hoon, asking why the Democratic Party attacks only Han Dong-hoon. Has there been some kind of change? Previously, within the leadership, Supreme Council Member Cho Kwang-han and others strongly pushed back against Representative Woo Jae-jun's suggestion to temporarily lift Han Dong-hoon's disciplinary suspension and place him on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee as a hearing panelist. Has the mood shifted?
[Cho Gab-je] Public opinion is shifting rapidly right now. Among conservatives, particularly People Power Party supporters, support for Han Dong-hoon is polling three times higher than support for Jang Dong-hyeok. His own base of support is shifting. Even those categorized as the far-right among his base are now saying Han Dong-hoon is doing a great job.
[Kim Tae-hyun] In this confirmation hearing atmosphere?
[Cho Gab-je] Then criticism arises asking what Party Leader Jang Dong-hyeok is doing. Mindful of that, even if reluctant, he has no choice but to cheer on Han Dong-hoon because the terrain of public opinion has clearly changed.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Because public sentiment shifted, Party Leader Jang is also—
[Cho Gab-je] Following along with it.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Yes. Representative Han Dong-hoon called it 'Oppa Gate,' but the Democratic Party is now framing it as 'Han Dong-hoon Gate' or the 'Han Dong-hoon Case,' shifting focus to the illegal leak of materials. These two narratives are colliding. How do you see this unfolding going forward?
[Cho Gab-je] The Democratic Party has played a complete self-destructive move.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Why?
[Cho Gab-je] In particular, they attacked and exposed the whistleblower. Isn't that a serious crime? The state has an obligation to protect someone registered as a public-interest whistleblower, yet they outed that person, and what they claimed was completely different from the facts. They should be held strictly accountable legally for this. Furthermore, the crux of this case is that a very dangerous new drug was on the verge of being sold on the market. Isn't that right?
[Kim Tae-hyun] Yes.
[Cho Gab-je] If a dangerous new drug had reached the market, people who took it could have died or been injured. The entity that created this situation was the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, a state agency, which failed to properly carry out its vetting role under pressure from Representative Kim Seung-won's political power, nearly allowing a drug that could be presumed toxic to go on sale. And looking at recent reports, human clinical trials were conducted.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Really?
[Cho Gab-je] They did it on 93 people. This must be investigated. What drug was administered to those 93 people? And whether there were aftereffects or not must be investigated.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Understood. In any case, this is a favorable situation for the opposition People Power Party.
[Cho Gab-je] That is right.
[Kim Tae-hyun] One candidate has stepped down, and various issues are being raised regarding Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won. But the person who should spearhead this—of course floor strategy is handled by the floor leader, but the party leader should take the helm and lead the charge. Over the weekend, Party Leader Jang attended a 100-day rally at Olympic Park; I couldn't confirm whether he was wearing a flower, but I saw him beating a drum. He received a cake, and he was enthusiastically beating a drum. Footage of him beating the drum is shown now, with many national flags visible. Party Leader Jang was wearing a cap and very comfortable clothes, beating the drum, and it looks like he wasn't wearing a flower. He received a cake and held a 100-day rally. How did you view that scene?
[Cho Gab-je] This is a comedy. Right now, Representative Han Dong-hoon has landed a decisive scoop, potentially a historic scoop. It is shaking this administration, and divisions are already emerging within the ruling camp.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Within the ruling bloc?
[Cho Gab-je] Within the ruling bloc, inside the administration. Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae launched an astonishing attack. And the two factions of Rhyu Si-min and Jung Chung-rae are keeping their mouths shut and staying quiet. That means they are keeping a low profile and looking for a chance to counterattack. It is a decisive opportunity, yet is beating drums and the like going to help them secure nationwide by-elections? He is living in an entirely different neighborhood. In a way, a fierce political battle is being waged over the fate of the administration and the path of the Republic of Korea, yet it is as if he is playing around in the South Pacific. So the person who will suffer the greatest blow this time, after the Lee Jae-myung administration, will be the Jang Dong-hyeok leadership. As Party Leader Jang Dong-hyeok gets caught in this Han Dong-hoon drive, his presence will diminish sharply, and if that happens, talk that Jang Dong-hyeok will not suffice could start coming from party members inside the People Power Party. The People Power Party base has turned entirely toward Han Dong-hoon, and while there is a slight gap between the party base and hardline members, I believe they will ultimately be pulled in that direction. In that case, even if a national convention were held right now—assuming Representative Han Dong-hoon is reinstated and a national convention takes place—I think he would beat Party Leader Jang Dong-hyeok. That is how much the structure of public opinion is shifting.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Triggered by this confirmation hearing phase?
[Cho Gab-je] Han Dong-hoon's surge is causing seismic shifts across the South Korean political landscape.
[Kim Tae-hyun] In the conservative bloc?
[Cho Gab-je] Not only there, but on the other side as well.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Why on the Democratic Party side?
[Cho Gab-je] Because their approval ratings are dropping into the 30% range, which is why Governor Choo Mi-ae is speaking out like that.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Why do you view what you earlier called an astonishing attack as astonishing? That Governor Choo Mi-ae would target the president—
[Cho Gab-je] When has a sitting governor from within the ruling party ever spoken out openly against an incumbent president like that?
[Kim Tae-hyun] That is true. Indeed.
[Cho Gab-je] But the fact that she thinks that is possible shows that respect for President Lee Jae-myung has already weakened, and they feel they must now find a way to survive. Finding a way to survive means looking out for the Democratic Party first. The Democratic Party is more important than Lee Jae-myung. The nature of things is shifting toward making sure the Democratic Party does not lose the next election.
[Kim Tae-hyun] So you are saying that as the president's approval rating drops, they are already rocking the president from within.
[Cho Gab-je] That is right. The shaking manifested in two ways. But Governor Choo's argument is nonsensical. She made a strange diagnosis that approval ratings fell because reforms were pursued insufficiently rather than more aggressively, but putting that aside.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Claiming he was co-opted by insurrectionist forces or something like that.
[Cho Gab-je] At any rate, what deserves the most attention is that now is not the time for Jung Chung-rae and Rhyu Si-min to keep their mouths shut and stay quiet. Shouldn't they be attacking Representative Han Dong-hoon? Yet they are not attacking him.
[Kim Tae-hyun] That is true. Former leader Jung Chung-rae has considerable firepower, so one might expect him to attack Representative Han Dong-hoon very fiercely during these confirmation hearings, yet he is quiet.
[Cho Gab-je] He is not doing it. Why isn't he?
[Kim Tae-hyun] That really is curious. Why isn't he doing it then?
[Cho Gab-je] He must be preparing something, or waiting for the right timing.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Pardon?
[Cho Gab-je] He must be waiting for the right timing.
[Kim Tae-hyun] The timing? The timing to attack Representative Han Dong-hoon, or the timing to redirect arrows at the president like Governor Choo Mi-ae did?
[Cho Gab-je] In particular, he attacked Party Leader Kim Min-seok because Kim put Jung Chung-rae's name in his notepad. He attacks Party Leader Kim Min-seok, but he does not attack Representative Han Dong-hoon, who is attacking Kim Min-seok.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Then former leader Jung Chung-rae has a different objective right now?
[Cho Gab-je] I believe he is biding his time and waiting for the right moment.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Understood. We will conclude our conversation with Cho Gab-je, CEO of Cho Gab-je TV, here for today. That was Cho Gab-je, CEO of Chogabje.com. Thank you.
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※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
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