Han Dong-hoon’s party board case reopens as travel ban lifted and Ahn Cheol-soo blocks his party return

South Korean police have reopened the investigation into the “party board” scandal involving independent lawmaker Han Dong‑hoon. The case centers on allegations that Han and his family posted defamatory messages about former President Yoon Suk‑yeol on the People Power Party’s member forum in late 2024. Seoul Police’s cyber unit has re‑interviewed a former party publicity staff member, reviving a probe that had stalled for more than a year.

The renewed inquiry has reignited internal tensions within the People Power Party. Party leader Jang Dong‑hyuk reiterated that the alleged posts constitute a criminal act and justified the earlier expulsion of Han. Meanwhile, senior party figure Ahn Cheol‑soo publicly declared his opposition to Han’s readmission, warning that his return could spark factional warfare and jeopardise the party’s prospects in upcoming elections.

In a related development, the travel ban imposed on Han by the special prosecution on 13 April was lifted at midnight on 13 July. Han posted on Facebook that the ban, which lasted three months without any summons, was intended solely to obstruct his election campaign, accusing the Justice Ministry of abuse of power.