Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon on the 24th told leader Jang Dong-hyeok, who carried out a 24-hour filibuster in opposition to the bill to create a special court division for insurrection cases, "Thank you for your hard work." There is also speculation that Han, the former leader at the center of the People Power Party factional feud, and Jang could join forces through a fight against the administration.
In a post on his Facebook page that day, the former leader said, "Yesterday, our party leader Jang Dong-hyeok poured his heart and soul into a full 24 hours to block the unconstitutional bill to create a special court division for insurrection cases," adding, "Thank you for your hard work."
The former leader said, "The Democratic Party today rammed through even the bill to eradicate false or manipulated information that muzzles the public and the media," adding, "The Democratic Party's outrage has long crossed the line." The former leader stressed, "This is a time when everyone must fight together and defend."
This is the first time since the Dec. 3 martial law crisis that the former leader has sent a friendly message toward leader Jang. The two split as they took opposite paths during the push to impeach former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
After Jang became party leader in August campaigning against impeachment, the conflict grew even sharper. After Jang took office, the People Power Party's Party Affairs Inspection Committee moved to reinvestigate the "party members' bulletin board" case targeting the former leader, and recommended disciplinary action against former supreme council member Kim Jong-hyuk, a close aide to the former leader, pushing the conflict to a peak.
But the mood shifted when leader Jang launched a 24-hour filibuster on the 23rd against the bill to create a special court division for insurrection cases. Lawmakers aligned with Han in the party also gave favorable reviews to Jang's filibuster, and even the former leader reached out.
If leader Jang and the former leader halt the internal feud and focus on a fight against the administration, it could become a new variable in next year's local elections.