Ahead of the by-election for the Busan Buk-gap National Assembly seat, set to be held along with the June 3 local elections, former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon and former Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Park Min-sik ran into each other at an event in the district.
Former leader Han and former Minister Park attended the Gupo Elementary School alumni sports event held on the morning of the 26th at the Gupo Elementary School playground in Buk-gu, Busan.
Former Minister Park, an alumnus of Gupo Elementary School, arrived at the event wearing a red jumper, the signature color of the People Power Party. Former Minister Park was twice elected in this district.
Former leader Han arrived a bit later, dressed in a white shirt. Former leader Han and former Minister Park crossed paths at the event and briefly shook hands in greeting.
In his congratulatory remarks, former Minister Park said, "This is Park Min-sik of Gupo Elementary School's 60th class," emphasizing that his mother, older brother, older sister, and younger sister all graduated from Gupo Elementary. He went on, "I want to take the applause from my seniors and juniors as meaning, 'Min-sik, please protect the pride of our Buk-gu and raise the honor of our Gupo Elementary.'"
Former leader Han was not able to deliver congratulatory remarks. The organizers explained, "Given the timing, we ask for your understanding that only alumni may use the microphone."
Before entering the venue, former leader Han told reporters, "As a person of Buk-gu, I came here to show my sincerity in promising the development of Buk-gu."
Ha Jung-woo, the presidential office's senior secretary for AI Future Planning, did not attend the event that day.