Within the People Power Party, reactions remain split over reinstating former leader Han Dong-hoon. Gwak Gyu-taek, the chief spokesperson for the party's floor leadership, on the 15th urged the party leadership to reinstate Han Dong-hoon and unify the candidate for the Busan Buk-gu Gap by-election. The leadership, however, drew a line, saying discussion is impossible if he does not apply for reinstatement.
Gwak appeared on Channel A's YouTube channel that morning and said, "At this point, it is time (for the former leader) to rejoin the party." Expelled from the People Power Party, the former leader recently filed a move-in report to Mandeok 2-dong in Buk-gu, Busan, effectively declaring an independent run.
He said, "Former Minister of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-sik and former KBS reporter Lee Young-pung have already declared their runs (for Busan Buk-gap)," adding, "It would be best for the former leader to rejoin the party and, through competition with these figures, unify as the People Power Party candidate."
When asked by the host, "Do you mean that leader Jang Dong-hyeok should withdraw the expulsion disciplinary action against the former leader?," Gwak said, "In politics, the side that reaches out first can be the winner," adding, "It is greater politics for the party leadership to reach out first and propose to the former leader, 'Rejoin the party and compete with other candidates in our party to run as our candidate.'"
He added, "If it becomes a three-way race, Busan could become the scene that shows the conservative camp splitting again," and said, "Even now, I hope the multiple-term lawmakers will persuade the former leader and the party leadership."
The party leadership, however, kept its distance from Gwak's proposal. Floor leader Song Eon-seog said at a news conference that afternoon, "I'm not sure there will even be a Busan Buk-gap by-election," adding, "If there is, as the second-largest party in the Assembly and the largest opposition party, we must fulfill our duties as a public party." Even if the former leader runs, the remarks suggest the party will not implement a "no-nomination" policy.
Policy committee chair Jeong Jeom-sik also told reporters, "If expelled, one cannot be reinstated for five years, and as an indirect route the (supreme council) can cancel the disciplinary action," adding, "It is absurd to talk about reinstatement when (the former leader) has not even applied."