President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee arrive at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Friday, following their three-nation tour of Southeast Asia. Yonhap

The ruling bloc is facing internal conflicts after Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party (PPP), urged the presidential office to dismiss aides to first lady Kim Keon Hee, who have allegedly been interfering in state and political affairs beyond their authority.

Han's remarks about Kim's "secret line" have deepened the rift between the pro-Han faction and the pro-Yoon Suk Yeol faction within the party, as they struggle to address the controversies surrounding the first lady.

"Kim doesn't hold an official post. So, there should be no political line supporting her," Han told reporters after the party's Supreme Council meeting, Monday, addressing rumors that Kim's loyal aides are meddling in state affairs.

The PPP chief's remarks came two days after he said he believes the presidential office needs to reshuffle its personnel to alleviate public concerns about Kim. It has been alleged that around six to seven individuals at the presidential office who assist with the First Lady's affairs have influence over state matters, including personnel decisions, beyond their official duties and authority.

In addition to the new allegations, other controversies surrounding Kim continue to burden Yoon. She is accused of involvement in a stock manipulation case, accepting a luxury handbag, and interfering with the PPP's candidate nominations for the April general elections.

Last week, Han urged prosecutors to reach a decision that the public can accept regarding the investigation into stock manipulation allegations involving the first lady. He also stated that Kim should refrain from participating in public activities.

The PPP's pro-Han faction explained that the party needs to preemptively respond to the first lady issue as the president and the ruling party are facing growing public anger.

"It is difficult to deny that people are feeling tired of the Yoon administration's handling of state affairs. The presidential office should not view Han's comments merely as a source of conflict but rather as an opportunity to reshuffle staff to better align with public expectations," Rep. Park Sung-hoon of the PPP said during a radio interview.

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party, speaks during a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, Monday. Yonhap

However, Han's comments triggered strong opposition from pro-Yoon loyalists within the PPP and the presidential office.

"Consolidating your power by criticizing the Yoon administration doesn't guarantee you a rosy future. Such shallow political maneuvers have inevitably failed so far," Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the PPP wrote on Facebook.

Rep. Na Kyung-won alleged that Han is inadvertently supporting the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) ahead of Wednesday's by-elections.

"The DPK is making populist pledges, ramping up calls for a special counsel probe into the first lady, hinting at Yoon's impeachment and proposing cash handouts. What strikes me is that the PPP is inadvertently supporting the DPK's election strategy by continuously discussing the controversies surrounding the first lady and pressuring the presidential office," Na said.

The presidential office also reacted angrily to Han's remarks.

"There is no such thing as 'the Kim Keon Hee line.' There is only the president's line. The change of personnel is unnecessary," a senior presidential official said on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, Yoon and Han are scheduled to have a one-on-one meeting early next week to discuss pending issues. Some of the key agenda items are expected to revolve around the controversies surrounding the first lady.

"If the ruling party leader makes a request on an important issue and the president accepts it and uses it as an opportunity to make changes and reforms, we may be able to restore public trust," Han said.

The by-elections will fill the top posts in Busan's Geumjeong District, Incheon's Ganghwa County, and the counties of Yeonggwang and Gokseong in South Jeolla Province, as well as the position of superintendent at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.

"Seoul's education superintendent and Busan's Geumjeong District, once considered a conservative stronghold, have become closely contested. The presidential office needs to change its attitude toward the first lady issue. Otherwise, Yoon will likely face a more difficult domestic political environment in the coming years," Eom Kyeong-young, director of the Zeitgeist Institute, a private political think tank, said.