Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon is breaking his silence in a memoir detailing his memories of the events that followed impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's shock move to impose martial law in December.
The book is a return to the public eye for Han, who has kept a low profile since stepping down on Dec. 16 as party leader in the wake of the martial law crisis less than two weeks earlier.
"On the night martial law was declared, Han acted against martial law for the sake of the South Korean people, and followed what he believed was right," the book's teaser reads.
It adds that the first half of the book chronicles the first 14 days since the martial law declaration as Han experienced it from the passage of the resolution lifting martial law through his resignation as the ruling party's leader.
"This book tells the stories behind Han's choices and the thoughts that ran through his mind as the country moves on from the day of martial law and into a new era," it reads.
In the author's introduction, Han is described as a "conservative who is sincere about law and order and bridging gaps" and a "champion of liberal democracy who values, above all, the people's will."
According to the author's introduction, Han's signature policy efforts include granting noncitizens the right to vote under the principle of reciprocity, expanding the scope of foreign espionage, establishing an agency for immigration and introducing the South Korean equivalent of Jessica's Law aimed at protecting child sex crime victims.
Formerly a colleague to Yoon as a prosecutor and later serving as minister of justice under him, Han's first official foray into politics came in December 2023 to lead the People Power Party heading up to the general election in the spring last year.
arin@heraldcorp.com
