▲ Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul on Jan. 29, 2026, after the party finalized a decision to expel him from the party. (Yonhap)
▲ Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the main opposition People Power Party, announces the party's decision during a supreme council meeting on Jan. 29, 2026. (Yonhap)
▲ Supporters of Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), hold a rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul on Jan. 29, 2026, to demand the PPP repeal its decision to expel Han. (Yonhap)

(2nd LD) PPP-ex-leader expulsion

(2nd LD) PPP expels ex-leader Han Dong-hoon over online posts amid internal feud

(ATTN: UPDATES Han's response, details in paras 4-5, 10-13)

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, Jan. 29 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) said Thursday it has expelled former party chief Han Dong-hoon over his family's posting of defamatory comments about former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife on a party bulletin board.

The party's supreme council finalized the decision about two weeks after its ethics committee voted to oust Han for the conduct it said had damaged the party's image.

Han's family has been accused of posting derogatory comments about Yoon, who was removed from office following his failed declaration of martial law in December 2024, and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, on the PPP's website.

The expulsion marks the culmination of prolonged internal strife within the conservative party ahead of the June local elections as the PPP is struggling to cope with a fall in public support following Yoon's martial law attempt.

Following the decision, Han urged his supporters and party members not to give up, saying they are "owners of the party and conservatism."

"Today, I was expelled. Although (the party) can expel me, it cannot break my determination for good politics for the people," Han said in a press conference at the National Assembly. "Please wait for me. I will return."

Han, once regarded as a close confidant of the ousted president, supported Yoon's impeachment following his brief declaration of martial law in 2024 and subsequently stepped down as party leader.

Han has apologized for the controversy surrounding the posts but remained defiant, framing the expulsion decision by the ethics committee as "manipulation" and "political retaliation."

Han's ouster came one day after party leader Jang Dong-hyeok returned to official duties following an eight-day hunger strike. He staged a hunger strike demanding a special counsel investigation into allegations involving the Unification Church and bribery claims related to ruling party nominations.

Ahead of the June 3 local elections, Jang seeks to rally support from conservative voters in efforts to rebrand the party and overhaul its image tainted by Yoon's martial law bid.

But a factional strife within the party has been deepening, with PPP lawmakers divided over Han's ouster. Sixteen PPP lawmakers aligned with Han publicly opposed the decision and called on the leadership to step down.

"The decision to expel former leader Han is a serious move that harms the party, and we cannot accept it," they said in a press conference at the National Assembly.

They accused Jang of running the party in an "unconstitutional and undemocratic" manner for his personal political interests, and urged the current leadership to take responsibility and resign.

"This is the most urgent task if the party hopes to secure a victory in the upcoming local elections," they added.

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