Jang Ye-chan Urges Han Dong-hoon to Seek 'Three-Way Race,' Criticizing Party's 'No Candidate' Decision

Jang Ye-chan, former Vice President of the Yeouido Research Institute, criticized the People Power Party's 'no-nomination' policy for the Busan Buk-gap by-election, arguing that former party leader Han Dong-hoon should aim for a three-way contest rather than the party refusing to field a candidate.

In a Facebook post on April 10, Jang argued that Han Dong-hoon must win in a three-way contest to prove his competitiveness and pointed out that demanding the People Power Party not nominate a candidate is inappropriate.

He reminded Han of his past actions as interim leader, when he canceled the nomination of a primary-winning candidate and instead nominated a parachuted candidate, while advocating a principle against readmission of independents. Jang criticized the current demand as inconsistent with his past statements. He cited opinion poll results showing him ahead of former Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-sik, saying, 'What party in the world would abandon its leading candidate to cede a district to a third-place independent?'

Jang further lambasted Han Dong-hoon, calling it inappropriate political behavior for Han to be driven into a corner and demand no nomination, only to attempt readmission after winning as an independent. He warned that if this leads to the Democratic Party gaining indirect benefits, it would constitute actions harmful to the conservative party.