Former Lawmaker Seo Byeong-soo Joins Independent Candidate Han Dong-hoon: What This Means for Busan’s Future

Former lawmaker Seo Byeong-su has left the People Power Party to join independent candidate Han Dong-hoon’s campaign in Busan’s Buk-gap district, agreeing to serve as honorary chair of Han’s campaign committee.

On the 7th, Seo submitted his resignation from the People Power Party and formally joined Han’s campaign team.

That day, Han posted on social media announcing that former Busan Mayor Seo Byeong-su would serve as honorary campaign committee chair for Han Dong-hoon, his candidate for Busan’s Buk-gap seat.

Han wrote that he deeply appreciates and respects Seo’s decisive step for Buk-gu’s future and for rebuilding the conservative movement, and vowed to secure victory and restore the conservative cause.

Seo had previously said on multiple occasions that he intended to support Han in the Busan Buk-gap special election.

Last month, when Han established a residence in Buk-gu’s Mandeok-dong neighborhood, the two reportedly met privately to discuss how Seo would support the campaign.

At that meeting, Seo reportedly told Han, “If you run in Busan’s Buk-gap district, I will help.”

Han’s camp also announced campaign appointments, naming former Busan administrative director Cho Seong-ho and former Busan City Council deputy chair Son Sang-yong as co-chairs of the campaign committee.

They said former three-term lawmaker Jeong Hyeong-geun will serve as chair of the campaign’s support (fundraising) committee.

Han plans to open his Busan Buk-gap campaign office on the 10th; on the same day, People Power Party candidate Park Min-sik will also hold his campaign office opening.