Ahn Cheol-soo opposes Han Dong-hoon's return to People Power Party: 'Don't come near our party'

People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo on Sunday called on independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon to stay away from the party, firmly opposing his return to its ranks, amid an ongoing dispute over testimony Ahn gave in court about the Dec. 3 emergency martial law declaration.

"It was never Han alone who stopped the martial law — so why should the history of that day be written as the heroic story of one man, Han Dong-hoon?" Ahn said at a press conference at the National Assembly. "I want him to not come near our party. I am firmly opposed to his rejoining."

The dispute stems from Ahn's appearance as a witness Wednesday in the trial of Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho — who served as the People Power Party's floor leader at the time of the martial law declaration — on charges of obstructing the vote to lift emergency martial law. Ahn testified that, to his knowledge, it was then-party leader Han who first directed People Power Party lawmakers to gather at party headquarters rather than the National Assembly. Han sharply denied the account, calling it "false agitation."

Ahn fired back at Han and his allies, saying they had "attacked, mocked and maligned a senior lawmaker of their own party for telling the truth in court." He added that "branding a fellow party member as an enemy and throwing yourself into a public-opinion war is both personal defamation and a clear act of conduct unbecoming a party member."

Ahn warned that the situation would only worsen if Han were allowed back in. "It is already this bad while Han is outside the party — it is plain to see what would happen if he rejoined," he said. "The entire party would be consumed by factional conflict and a draining internal war, and we would be heading toward a catastrophe in which winning the general election would be unthinkable."

Ahn also addressed reports that the party's ethics committee is reviewing disciplinary cases against some pro-Han lawmakers who directly or indirectly supported Han's independent candidacy. "Some degree of resolution will be needed on the question of party lawmakers supporting an independent candidate while our party had its own nominated candidate in the race," he said.