▲ Kim Tae-heum, Governor of South Chungcheong Province
Kim Tae-heum, the Governor of South Chungcheong Province and a member of the People Power Party, criticized a dinner meeting involving Han Dong-hoon and a faction close to him, saying, “Is he some kind of faction boss? It seems too amateurish and frustrating.”
Governor Kim spoke to reporters after attending a seminar hosted by the ‘Meeting to Prepare for a New Future’ held at the Air Force Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, stating, “The fact that the leader meets with lawmakers he considers his faction is not normal.”
Han Dong-hoon had dinner with about 20 lawmakers from the faction close to him the previous day, sharing the outcome of a meeting with President Yoon Seok-yeol and discussing current political issues, including risks associated with First Lady Kim Kun-hee.
During a lecture, Governor Kim also commented on the meeting between President Yoon and Representative Han, saying, “It’s not like he’s the opposition leader, he’s the ruling party leader. He should meet quietly, talk about worldly matters, and offer frank advice, not make a fuss before the media and then want to meet, which is practically a threat.”
Furthermore, he argued, “It seems all he sees is the opportunity to become a presidential candidate.”
Governor Kim revealed that he received a direct phone call from Representative Han after posting on social media on the 20th, a day before Han’s meeting with President Yoon. In the post, Governor Kim expressed his hope that Han would become a party leader who is sincere and prepared for the future, rather than being seen as exhibiting characteristics associated with the prosecution, quick wit, superficiality, or seeking attention.
Regarding the phone conversation with Representative Han, Governor Kim said, “I asked if he called because he was upset about hearing uncomfortable words, to which Representative Han replied, ‘It’s not about being upset; it’s an insult.’ He considered the terms ‘prosecution-like’ and ‘attention-seeking’ to be insults.”
Governor Kim continued, “I said that even if it sounds uncomfortable, it’s not an insult.” He reported that Representative Han responded, “How can a party member insult the representative?”
Governor Kim reiterated his criticism of Han, saying, “That’s what I mean by prosecution-like behavior. If the representative was at fault, they should accept criticism from party members. How can he be a leader if he can’t handle even this?”
(Photo provided by South Chungcheong Province, Yonhap News)