Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon joined the National Assembly research group "Global Diplomacy and Security Forum," led mainly by People Power Party lawmakers, on the 30th. After Han joined, People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok was said to have left the group's Telegram chat room.
According to political circles that day, Han expressed his intent last week to join the Global Diplomacy and Security Forum, chaired by People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Jae-ok, and formally joined as a full member that day. With about 37 lawmakers participating, the diplomacy and security forum holds a debate once a month and carries its work into legislative activity as a National Assembly research group.
Members of the forum include People Power Party leadership such as leader Jang Dong-hyeok, supreme council member Shin Dong-wook, secretary-general Chung Hee-yong, vice secretary-general Kang Myeong-gu, vice chief of strategic planning Seo Cheon-ho, and floor spokesperson Choi Eun-seok. Lawmaker Kim Geon, categorized within the People Power Party as part of the "diplomacy line," serves as the research lead lawmaker.
That morning, after Han, who had been invited to the Telegram group chat of forum-affiliated lawmakers, left a greeting saying, "Thank you for the invitation! This is Han Dong-hoon," leader Jang exited the chat without saying anything.
Some assessed that this showed displeasure at Han's broad outreach to People Power Party lawmakers. However, leader Jang has not withdrawn from the forum as of now.
Meanwhile, elected in the June 3 parliamentary by-election and beginning legislative activities this month, Han was assigned to the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and the Special Committee on Budget & Accounts in the latter half of the National Assembly.