Avoid a fatal clash between Yoon and Han

Hwang Sang-moo resigned from his post as the senior secretary to President Yoon Suk Yeol for civil and social affairs after causing an uproar for his intimidating remarks towards journalists by mentioning the 1988 stabbing of a journalist critical of the military regime at the order of the military intelligence command. The presidential office worsened the affair by taking Han’s remarks lightly and rejecting People Power Party (PPP) interim leader Han Dong-hoon’s public demand for Hwang’s withdrawal.

The presidential office hurriedly accepted the resignation amid the PPP’s dipping approval rating ahead of the April 10 parliamentary elections. Another controversial figure, ambassador to Australia Lee Jong-sup, who faces an investigation into negligence during his service as defense minister over the death of a young Marine, voluntarily returned home on Thursday. The immediate fire has been put out, but the flame hazard from the presidential office remains.

President Yoon wanted to keep Hwang until the last moment. He only gave in when public polls show the majority of people demanding his return.

The conflict between Yoon loyalists in the PPP and Han is also worsening due to their difference over the nominations for proportional representatives. Rep. Lee Chul-gyu, a member of the nomination committee and key aide of Yoon, had a row with Han when candidates from Jeolla and key party members were left out in the nomination. The public can only fret over another faceoff between Yoon and Han, following the fallout after Han sided with public sentiment over the first lady’s mysterious acceptance of a luxury bag in January.

The PPP’s election odds can turn bad if the Yoon-Han friction is left unattended. Upon election defeat, the government will become anemic during the remainder of Yoon’s presidency and lose steam in its drive for labor, pension and education reforms. The majority Democratic Party is already chanting a majority victory and even vows to push for Yoon’s impeachment or constitutional reform to kick him out of office earlier. Yoon must patch up with Han and pay more attention to the party voices if he wants to avoid that outcome.

Many are frustrated about the government’s “unpredictability.” The president often invited the headwinds to the election, and yet his aides do not know why. No power can prevail over public sentiment. The presidential office must remember the next three years depend on the election results.

As Lee returned from Australia, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials needs to summon him to quicken the probe. If it cannot, it must explain why before stoking an unnecessary political dispute ahead of the election.