Justice minister to lead conservative party in turmoil

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon at the National Assembly on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon will take the helm of the People Power Party's (PPP) emergency leadership committee before the upcoming parliamentary elections in April.

Han accepted the party's offer to head the committee on Thursday.

Conservative party closer to inviting justice minister to be leader

He is expected to resign as justice minister in the afternoon.

The ruling party has been in turmoil since its former leader, Kim Gi-hyeon, announced his resignation on social media amid pressure from party members who are either close to Yoon or have been elected in PPP strongholds.

The party's now-dissolved innovation committee first proposed that Kim resign.

The presidential office reportedly asked Kim to give up his seat in the National Assembly while maintaining his leadership post, which Kim rejected to run in next year's parliamentary election in current district in Ulsan.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]