Park Min-sik, Han Dong-hoon Clash Over Former President Park Geun-hye

Park Min-sik, a candidate for the National Assembly by-election in Busan's Buk-gap district representing the People Power Party, and Han Dong-hoon, an independent candidate, have engaged in a verbal spat following the visit of former President Park Geun-hye to Busan. Park Min-sik initiated the criticism against Han Dong-hoon concerning the former president's visit itinerary.

Park Min-sik, via his Facebook account, criticized Han Dong-hoon, stating, "You are a fake conservative who sought a 30-year sentence for President Park, yet you try to steal the People Power Party's name." He further argued, "It is the Democratic Party's wish for independent candidate Han Dong-hoon to win and for the conservative bloc to be divided, which only aids the unchecked advance of the Lee Jae-myung administration."

In response, Han Dong-hoon expressed respect for former President Park's visit and admiration for her life. He countered Park Min-sik's '30-year sentence' remark by stating, "The person who championed President Yoon Suk-yeol's rise, the one who decided on the 30-year sentence, is now trying to pin Yoon's sentencing on me."

Han Dong-hoon further urged voters in Buk-gu-gap, saying, "A vote for candidate Park is a vote that helps Democratic Party candidate Ha Jung-woo and aids the Lee Jae-myung regime's unchecked advance." He appealed to citizens for consolidation behind him as the conservative candidate.

This exchange highlights the internal conflict within the conservative camp ahead of the by-election and foreshadows intensifying negative campaigning and the potential impact of former President Park Geun-hye's political activities on the election outcome.