(News Focus) Disagreement over ambassador, presidential aide opens up fresh rift between Yoon, PPP leader

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- The presidential office and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) have clashed again, this time over the controversial appointment of a new ambassador and a top presidential aide's impropriety, sparking speculation about how it will affect the general elections just three weeks away.

The tension came to light as PPP leader Han Dong-hoon called earlier this week for the summoning of Ambassador to Australia Lee Jong-sup back home to face the investigation into a Marine's death in which he remains a key subject.

The call from Han, who is leading the PPP for the April 10 elections, is seen as an open objection to President Yoon Suk Yeol's unperturbed stance about the appointment of the former defense minister.

The rift between the two sides appeared to be deepening over the presidential office's handling of Hwang Sang-moo, senior presidential secretary for civil and social agenda, over the remarks Hwang made to reporters in jest about how journalists could face retribution for running anti-government stories.

The PPP leadership called for Hwang to resign voluntarily. Prominent PPP figures running for the parliamentary elections, including Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo and Yoon's previous press secretary Kim Eun-hye, also urged Yoon to sack both Lee and Hwang.

Despite the emphatic calls from the PPP, the presidential office has remained unfettered.

On Monday, the presidential office said it would be "highly inappropriate" if Lee returned home immediately when no summons of him has been issued. It also said Lee will return when he is subpoenaed, apparently dismissing the PPP's call for the envoy's return.

Yoon's office also ruled out replacing Hwang, although the possibility is still gaining traction.

Observers say the PPP's objection projects its growing worries over how the Lee and Hwang issues could negatively affect the upcoming elections, especially the swing voters in the wider Seoul metropolitan region that the party has been wooing so hard.

"If we hear more voices from the candidates running for metropolitan districts, the party has no choice but to act on it again," a ruling party official said earlier on condition of anonymity.

"We cannot rule out the possibility of the rift erupting again," the official said.

Observers say the latest discord reflects another awkward clash between Yoon and Han -- the two former elite prosecutors who used to work in one team with Yoon as superior -- as they seek to drive their political agendas to their own advantage.

It is not the first time Yoon and Han have clashed over hot-button issues.

The previous row came in January when the two clashed over how to handle allegations that first lady Kim Keon Hee received a luxury bag as a gift in 2022 and Han's public support for a PPP emergency leadership committee member seeking to run for a parliamentary seat in a district in Seoul's Mapo Ward.

The presidential office called for Han to resign, but Han rejected the call, sparking concerns over a rift between the president and the ruling party leader ahead of the elections.

As concerns mounted over the strife, Yoon and Han patched things up quickly as they inspected together a market site in the aftermath of a fire, with Han deeply bowing to Yoon and Yoon tapping Han's shoulders in a show of reconciliation.

As the election approaches, it remains to be seen whether the presidential office will take action to reverse the situation.

Some raise the possibility of dismissing Hwang if the pressure from the PPP further intensifies.

For the PPP, finding itself in a conflict with the presidential office is the least it would want when the elections are only three weeks away.

On Tuesday, Han made clear he stands by his position.

"My position is unchanged," he told reporters. "We should be sensitive to the public sentiment ... Since the people are more interested in these issues than others, I've told you of the need to settle this part."

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