Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (left) talks with Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People's Power Party, at the National Foundation Day celebration held at Sejong Center in Seoul on October 3. Yonhap News

The ruling People's Power Party (PPP) said on October 3 that it will push for a fact-finding investigation into the alleged "instigation of attack to Han Dong-hoon" during the national convention despite the defection of Kim Dae-nam, a former officer at the Presidential Office. In the ongoing conflict between President Yoon Suk-yeol and PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, there is an interpretation that Han’s side aims to pressure First Lady Kim Keon-hee and the presidential office. In the pro-Yoon faction, a rebuttal was raised, saying, "Han's mudding the waters."
After attending the National Foundation Day celebration, when reporters asked if he was pursuing a fact-finding investigation into the instigation of attack despite former officer Kim’s defection, Han said, "It is an act that has crossed the line for a former member of the party to instigate false attacks on a left-wing YouTuber, a very extreme opponent. If you listen to the recording, it's not a conspiracy, but the act of instigation itself is recorded as it is. That's why we're taking the necessary measures.”

Shin Ji-ho, the head of the PPP’s strategic planning department, who is also a member of the Pro-Han faction, said on CBS radio, “Even if Kim is expelled from the party, it is possible to investigate the truth because it is a very serious incident. It is hard to believe that Kim did it all alone,” and suspected that there could be a mastermind.

Earlier, a recording was released on October 1 that Kim instigated an attack on then party leader candidate Han Dong-hoon to the Voice of Seoul ahead of the PPP’s National Convention to elect the party leader on July 23.

In the recording released by the Voice of Seoul on its YouTube channel, Kim said, “This time, if you plan it (Han's alleged embezzlement) well and hit him (Han) on the Voice of Seoul, the first lady will be satisfied.”

The Pro-Han faction is pressuring the presidential office. The rationale is that former officer Kim is from the presidential office and is related to then party leader candidates Na Kyung-won and Won Hee-ryong, who were evaluated to follow President Yoon's intention rather than Han during the national convention.

PPP member Kim Jong-hyuk also claimed on CBS radio the day before that “I thought that the presidential office had no discipline.” Former lawmaker Lee Sang-min also said on KBS radio, “I think the presidential office needs to take an active stance in investigating the truth and holding Kim responsible.”

Some analysts say that the Pro-Han faction may be trying to gain the upper hand in the power game with the presidential office by pushing for a fact-finding investigation. “In the end, it looks like they are attacking the first lady, who is behind Kim Dae-nam,” said a political insider. ”It looks like Han is trying to strengthen his position as an alternative force at a time when Yoon's approval ratings are falling.”

The pro-Yoon faction refuted the claim. "Considering the atmosphere of the presidential office and Yoon’s position, I don't think the first lady or the president talked to the former officer in this way," Kim Ki-heung, former officer at the presidential office, said on Sisa Journal TV’s YouTube channel. Jang Ye-chan, a former PPP member, said on MBC radio, "I wonder if making a fuss as if there is something behind it is a trick to cover up the poor performance of the Han Dong-hoon leadership. It is a shallow trick."

PPP lawmaker Na Kyung-won also said on her social media account, “Former officer Kim was one of several special aides who were supposed to help me during the national convention, but he never discussed or reported those things with me. I can only sigh at the party leadership's response. I urge the party leadership to stop fueling the opposition's impeachment scenario by spreading conspiracy theories on this matter.”

There are also voices within the party calling for restraint. PPP lawmaker Kim Yong-tae said on SBS radio, “It is a spit in the face of the party and the government to investigate and reveal this matter. The very idea of investigating when he has defected from the party could send the wrong signal and possibly escalate.”