[Politics & Diplomacy] Han Byung-do elected DP floor leader ahead of key plenary session and...

Описание: [Politics & Diplomacy] Han Byung-do elected DP floor leader ahead of key plenary session and general election

與 원내대표에 한병도… 올해 첫 본회의, 특검법 처리 예고

The ruling Democratic Party elected three-term lawmaker Han Byung-do as its new floor leader on Sunday, tasking him with stabilizing a party shaken by allegations.
With his four-month term already underway, attention is turning to whether he can drive key special prosecutor bills through the National Assembly while managing internal risks ahead of June’s local elections.
For more, we’re joined by our political correspondent, Moon Hye-ryeon.
Welcome, Hye-ryeon.

Good evening, Dami.

First, let’s look at how this leadership change came about. Why was Han Byung-do chosen, and what kind of situation is he stepping into?

Han Byung-do was elected floor leader on Sunday, after a runoff vote against fellow three-term lawmaker Back Hye-ryun emerging as the compromise figure at a time when the party urgently needs stability.
The by-election itself was triggered by the resignation of former floor leader Kim Byung-kee, who stepped down amid allegations linked to illegal nomination donations.
The fallout from those allegations has left the Democratic Party facing internal distrust and external pressure, particularly from the main opposition People Power Party, which has seized on the controversy to question the ruling party’s legitimacy.
Most recently, Han worked as head of situation management during Lee’s early presidential campaign, reinforcing his image as a trusted insider.
His election signals the party’s desire for crisis management rather than experimentation but he inherits a floor leadership with only four months left in its term, running until mid-May, leaving him little room for error.

One of Han’s first moves has been to signal strong legislative action. What exactly is being planned for the upcoming National Assembly session?

Han has made it clear that he intends to move quickly.
He announced that the Democratic Party will push to pass the second comprehensive special prosecutor bill at the Assembly’s plenary session scheduled for this Thursday.
That bill expands on previous investigations into the December 3 emergency martial law incident and related cases, reopening areas that lawmakers argue were insufficiently examined during earlier probes.
The bill has already cleared the Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s agenda coordination subcommittee under Democratic Party leadership, and is expected to be tabled at the plenary session after passing a full committee review.
Under the revised proposal, the counsel's investigation period would last up to 170 days, including preparation time, with an expanded team of special investigators and reduced reliance on seconded prosecutors a change meant to address concerns about prosecutorial bias.
However, the situation is more complicated when it comes to the Unification Church special prosecutor bill.
Although Han initially vowed to pass both measures together, the party now acknowledges that the Unification Church bill will not be ready in time for the plenary session due to stalled negotiations with the opposition.

"This bill aims to fully uncover the truth behind the insurrection. The DP will pass the second comprehensive special prosecutor bill at the plenary session on the 15th.”

“They ignore probes into those in power while pursuing punitive investigations into already fallen figures.”

Beyond the special prosecutor bills, what are the biggest challenges Han Byung-do faces during his short term?

The challenge is balancing everything at once and doing it fast.
Han’s four-month term coincides with the run-up to the June 3 local elections, the first nationwide electoral test of the Lee administration.
Any misstep, whether in handling internal scandals or pushing controversial legislation, could directly affect voter sentiment.
At the same time, Han must juggle reform legislation and bread-and-butter economic issues.
Judicial reform bills, including changes to court structures and legal accountability, are being pushed aggressively by the party leadership, particularly Chairman Jung Chung-rae.
But there are growing concerns within the party that an all-out reform drive could alienate moderate voters, while slowing down could anger the party’s core base.
Layered onto that are economic pressures such as volatile housing prices and currency fluctuations which Han addressed immediately following this election, pledging to show tangible results and improve people's livelihoods.

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2026-01-13, 20:00 (KST)