President-elect Han Dong-hoon, the lawmaker for Busan Buk-gap, entered the National Assembly on the 5th.
Han, an independent lawmaker, stood in front of the main building steps of the National Assembly at about 1:40 p.m. that day. People Power Party lawmakers close to Han's camp — including Park Jung-hoon, Bae Hyun-jin, Han Ji-a, Park Jung-ha, Ko Dong-jin, Jung Sung-kook, Jin Jong-oh, Jung Yeon-uk and Kim Sung-won — welcomed Han. About 200 of Han's supporters also attended, holding banners and hand signs.
Han said, "On the night of Dec. 3, 2024, I was right here," adding, "With the decision and actions I took that day as a citizen of the Republic of Korea and as leader of the People Power Party, I have since walked a politically thorny path."
Han said, "Even if I could go back, I would walk the same path," adding, "Today, I have returned here again with the power of citizens. I will carry out faithful legislative work to develop the district, rebuild the conservative camp and stop the runaway of power, as strongly wished by citizens."
Asked by reporters about plans to rejoin the People Power Party, Han said, "On the first day I was expelled, I said I would return," adding, "It is not the stage to preemptively fret over specific procedures."
Returning to the National Assembly as a first-term independent after serving as an out-of-parliament party leader, Han has emerged as a core figure in a People Power Party realignment. Han's office at the Assembly Members' Office Building was assigned to Room 1022, previously used by former Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Yong-gi. On the same floor, pro-Han lawmakers — Kim Hyung-dong (Room 1016), Bae Hyun-jin (1015), Ko Dong-jin (1014) and Park Jung-hoon (1017) — are located.
Song Young-gil, viewed as a contender for the Democratic Party's leadership, also entered the National Assembly that day. Song served as Democratic Party leader and Incheon mayor and has climbed to a sixth term. In the upcoming party convention, he is cited as a leadership candidate alongside leader Jung Chung-rae and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok.
After finishing the Democratic Party's general assembly of lawmakers that day, Song met with reporters and raised the issue of leader Jung Chung-rae's responsibility. Regarding Jung's pledge to produce a white paper on the June 3 local elections, Song said, "Before asking who is responsible, we need to grasp and analyze the pros and cons of these circumstances objectively so that, as a lesson, our Democratic Party can create a turning point to win back the hearts of voters in their 20s and 30s who are drifting away," adding, "Since an official body has been formed in the party, I expect objective discussions at that evaluation committee. I will also submit my views."
Song was assigned an office in Room 818 at the Assembly Members' Office Building. It is the office that President Lee Jae-myung used when he was a lawmaker, and the same one Song used when he represented the Gyeyang-eul district.