Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party held a news conference on the 12th and said he opposes independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon rejoining the party.
Ahn testified as a witness at Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho's trial, saying, "During the Dec. 3 martial law crisis, I understand that the first person who notified People Power Party lawmakers to gather at party headquarters instead of the National Assembly was Han Dong-hoon, who was party leader at the time." Han pushed back, calling it "a distortion of the facts," and Ahn and Han are locked in a dispute over the truth.
At the news conference, Ahn said, "I had kept open the possibility of Han Dong-hoon rejoining the party, but after testifying as a witness in Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho's trial this time, I encountered a reaction I could never have imagined," adding, "If Han Dong-hoon rejoins, I could see a preview of how the party would be thrown into turmoil."
He said, "I heard from those who were gathered at party headquarters at the time that 'it was party leader Han Dong-hoon who first said we should head to headquarters,' and later confirmed through the party's official materials that it was true," adding, "But Han Dong-hoon tried to frame it as if I had engaged in distortion and agitation."
He went on, "Turning testimony that states the facts as they are into something false is clearly spreading false information and defamation," adding, "If there is something to say, do not hide behind 'closed doors, not at home'; just appear in court and testify."
Ahn said, "Han Dong-hoon joined in stopping martial law on Dec. 3, but it was by no means Han Dong-hoon alone who stopped it that night," adding, "Our party's lawmakers were also on the voting floor, and those from our party who remained at headquarters and could not take part in the vote jointly issued a statement opposing martial law. Then why must the history of that day become solely the heroic narrative of one person, Han Dong-hoon?"
He added, "I now hope Han will not so much as come near our party," and said, "If he is thinking of forming a new party, I will support it."