Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the People Power Party, officially declared his candidacy for the presidential election on the 10th. Han stated, "I will put an end to the outdated politics that has been marked by hostile symbiosis," emphasizing the need for a shift in the era.
On the same day at 2 p.m., Han formalized his candidacy in front of the National Assembly main building, stressing that he is a candidate who can win.
He noted, "Who can fight and win against Lee Jae-myung? Who does Lee Jae-myung fear the most? Who will protect us from the massive opposition party that has committed dozens of impeachments and legislative runaway and has shown ruthless tyranny?" He added, "We must make the winning choice. The winning choice is Han Dong-hoon."
Han emphasized that we must protect our future from dangerous politicians who would betray the fate of the country for their own power and from extreme populists who blindly believe in them, stating, "From those who can be free from the state of emergency of that day, I, Han Dong-hoon, who was the first to head to the National Assembly and said I would block it with the people, must face it. That is how we can win. We can win that way."
He conveyed to party members, "I deeply sympathize with those who have suffered from the state of emergency and impeachment. I will share that pain till the end. I will bear that pain longer and more intensively. However, that is one process toward achieving the direction of the Republic of Korea, which is liberal democracy. We can win again when we uphold the core values of conservatism—liberalism and the rule of law—and fulfill our responsibilities."
He asserted, "I will create a country where the people come first, a country of a growing middle class, and a country where pragmatism wins over ideology," emphasizing, "I will achieve political change, generational change, and a change of eras."
Han declared, "Like changing the ingredients while keeping the same dish, I will put an end to the outdated politics that has engaged in hostile symbiosis. I will end the politics of vested interests that forces a choice within fixed frameworks like conservatives and progressives, Yeongnam and Honam, white-collar and blue-collar."
He also announced, "I promise a four-year term decentralized presidential system and a bicameral system. I will not increase the total number of National Assembly members. Instead, I will abolish proportional representation and introduce a Senate." He added, "I will create a Senate with large electoral districts so that one side cannot monopolize by relying on regionalism. Only then can we break the extreme politics."
Han further suggested again that the next presidential election and the general election be held simultaneously to align the start and end of the presidential and National Assembly terms. He stated, "The current president should not run in the presidential election held three years from now," adding, "I will not be the protagonist of a new era but rather the last gatekeeper to close the door on the old era."
Han also stated he would open the 'era of the middle class' and revealed a two-year future growth plan.
He said, "I will create a war room with the determination to engage in an economic war. I will achieve the innovations desired by market participants, from small startups to large corporations. I will take direct control of the economy as president," emphasizing, "I will formulate and implement a two-year future growth plan instead of the past five-year cycle to keep pace with the fast-changing era."
In addition, he promised the establishment of the Future Strategy Department, the focused nurturing of the Big 5: robotics, semiconductors, energy, and bio, the construction of five megacities, a reduction in earned income tax, and the creation of an economic NATO.
Han noted, "I will create a national income of $40,000 and an era where 70% are middle class. Moving beyond the entrenched polarization, I will open an era of a growing middle class where anyone can become middle class through effort." He also promised, "I will practice welfare for all that the middle class can also enjoy, moving beyond the existing paradigm of welfare for the weak."