Politics · South Korea · 2 hrs ago
Lee and Han’s Tense Encounter Highlights Obstacles to Conservative Unity
Lee Jun-seok and Han Dong-hoon met briefly on November 2 at the funeral of lawmaker Kim Sung-won’s father in South Korea.
Han, an independent lawmaker, shook hands with Lee, who belongs to the Reform New Party, and then left.
Their strained relationship reflects a wider dispute over who would lead a possible reshaping of the conservative opposition.
Lee has called Han a “shabby legal technician” and argued that he should be excluded from conservative unity efforts.
Their conflict could make conservative unity harder, even as political realignment is discussed after Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was found not guilty in an appeal over allegations of paying for opinion polls.
The two are expected to compete for influence if efforts to reorganize the conservative opposition gather pace before the 2028 general election.
Lee Jun-seok and Han Dong-hoon briefly met at a funeral on November 2, shook hands and then Han left.
The encounter took place as the two conservative politicians continued a public dispute over influence and conservative political realignment.
Lee has called Han a “vulgar legal technician” and argued that Han should be excluded from conservative unity efforts.
Han has avoided responding directly, while some of his allies have criticized Lee.
The article says the rift could make conservative unity harder ahead of the 2028 general election.
- Who
- Lee Jun-seok, a Reform New Party lawmaker, and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon.
- What
- They briefly met at a funeral, shook hands, and Han left.
- When
- November 2. The article was published on November 3, 2026.
- Where
- At the funeral for the father of People Power Party lawmaker Kim Seong-won.
- Why
- The encounter came amid tensions over conservative political realignment and which figures would lead it.
Lee Jun-seok
Han Dong-hoon
Role in conservative unity
Lee Jun-seok
Lee has argued that Han should be excluded from the process.
Han Dong-hoon
Han has not directly responded to Lee, according to the article.
Public criticism
Lee Jun-seok
Lee has called Han a “vulgar legal technician.
Han Dong-hoon
Some of Han’s allies have responded critically to Lee.
Lee and Han met at the funeral for Kim Seong-won’s father, shook hands, and Han left.
Donga Ilbo reported that their tense relationship could complicate conservative unity.
- Meeting date
- November 2
- Venue
- Funeral for the father of Kim Seong-won
- Lee’s party
- Reform New Party
- Han’s status
- Independent lawmaker
- Election cited
- 2028 general election
1 source
What people are saying
vulgar legal technician
He is effectively acting as Mayor Oh’s spokesperson. It may be the first time in party history that a former party leader has played this role.
The emotional rift between the two sides is quite deep.