Former People’s Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon was invited to the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump but has decided not to attend.
A People’s Power Party official stated in a phone call with Yonhap News TV today (the 13th) that former leader Han received an invitation to the inauguration from members of Trump’s team but decided not to attend due to domestic circumstances.
The official mentioned that considering the political situation in the country after the martial law, it was deemed appropriate not to attend the inauguration.
It is also reported that since there was no specific discussion about who to meet or what to discuss in the U.S., there was a sense of burden about broadening his range of activities.
Park Jung-ha, a member of the National Assembly who served as Han’s chief of staff, and Han Ji-a, a former chief spokesperson, also received invitations but similarly decided not to attend.
Additionally, Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People’s Power Party, has also decided not to attend Trump’s inauguration.
Kwon explained his reason for not attending during a meeting with James Kim, the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, at the National Assembly on the 10th, stating, “Leaving the country at a time when the political situation in Korea is uncertain and severe doesn’t seem appropriate for a floor leader in relation to the lawmakers and party members.”
It has been reported that some members of the People’s Power Party, such as Na Kyung-won, Kim Dae-sik, and Cho Jung-hoon, will individually attend the inauguration.