Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, right, makes a gesture of respect before the national flag during a Cabinet meeting at the Government Complex in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

By Nam Hyun-woo

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon has been called upon to run in the competition to select the ruling People Power Party's (PPP) new leader, as he is described as President Yoon Suk-yeol's favorite Cabinet minister.

PPP floor leader Joo Ho-young said in a forum on Monday, "Party members are concerned that there are no candidates who can lead the party's victory in the (2024) general election." After mentioning current PPP chairman hopefuls ― Reps. Kim Gi-yeon, Yoon Sang-hyun and Cho Kyoung-tae, Joo went on to say that party members "are not satisfied with the current selection."

Joo also proposed three conditions required for the party chairman: someone who can bring the PPP's election victory in Seoul and surrounding Gyeonggi Province in the 2024 election, someone who is influential to the Millennial-Generation Z demographics and someone who can manage the transparent recommendation of the party's candidates for the general election.

PPP interim leader Rep. Chung Jin-suk also echoed Joo's comments that "the new leadership should be able to empathize with Millennials and Generation Z."

The remarks gained political importance because Joo made the comments after he had dinner twice with President Yoon. Joo had a dinner with the interim leadership members of the PPP at the presidential residence on Nov. 25 and privately had a dinner with Yoon there on Nov. 30, implying that the floor leader's remarks can reflect Yoon's intentions for the party.

People Power Party floor leader Joo Ho-young speaks during an interim leadership meeting at the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Against this backdrop, Justice Minister Han is emerging as an alternative, because of the president's trust in him and his heightened political presence which was improved during his verbal battles with opposition lawmakers.

"Surveys show that Yoo Seong-min, a frontrunner of the anti-Yoon faction in the PPP, is still leading the race for the chairmanship, and frankly speaking other hopefuls do not match Yoo in terms of public awareness or influence," an official of the ruling party said on condition of anonymity. "To win in an election, you have to have a freshness, and that's why speculations are growing over Han."

Han, a former prosecutor, has long been regarded as one of the closest aides to President Yoon. He was described as an "elite" prosecutor due to his prestigious academic background and successful career at the prosecution ― investigating a series of politically important cases.

Han's political prowess is also gaining attention lately, as he successfully defied main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmakers' allegations and political offensives with his outspoken rhetoric during National Assembly hearings.

In a Dec. 2 poll by Gallup Korea asking about public preferences for future political leaders, Han secured a 10 percent support rate, following DPK Chairman Lee Jae-myung with 23 percent. Han was most popular among surveyed PPP politicians, such as Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo. The poll surveyed 1,000 adults from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. Further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission's website.

"During the last presidential election, the public wanted to hand down a judgment to the DPK, but at the same time they didn't have that much trust in the PPP," another official at the ruling bloc said. "That's why Yoon, who was not affiliated with the DPK, could take power, and the same logic applies to the general election. It is hard to deny that there are doubts whether familiar faces will attract the public in the general election."

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon answers lawmakers' questions during a National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting at the Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Nov. 23. Yonhap

The opposition bloc is also considering Han as one of the contenders for PPP chairmanship. On Monday, former National Intelligence Service Director Park Jie-won of the DPK said in a radio interview with broadcaster KBS that "(Floor leader Joo's comments) are aimed at Justice Minister Han," adding, "It seems to be a tactic of floating Han as a PPP chairman candidate to monitor the party's response."

However, voices of discontent are also growing over Han's joining the chairmanship race, as the party is inclined to hold its national convention as early as late February, and time is too short for Han to turn himself into a politician.

Existing PPP heavyweights are also casting worries over Han's potential chairmanship of the party.

"President Yoon may consider Han for a more important role," former PPP lawmaker Na Kyung-won said during a radio interview with broadcaster CBS, Tuesday.

"Party chairman is a very difficult post for a politician, and the next chairman has to take on the very difficult job of harmonizing the presidential office with the public sentiment. The relations with the opposition party are also thorny. Given that, President Yoon may not assign such a tough job to Han, because the president adores the minister so much."