Ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon bows after holding a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday, announcing his resignation as the party leader. Yonhap

Han Dong-hoon, once a promising figure in the conservative bloc, is now losing his influence in politics after resigning from his position as head of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) following the National Assembly's successful vote to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol for declaring martial law earlier this month.

His critics blame him for failing to protect the party and the president by flip-flopping his stance and eventually supporting the opposition-led impeachment motion against Yoon. Han, once seen as a strong front-runner for the 2027 presidential election, has now lost his advantage as party leader and faces a challenging political future.

The Assembly passed the impeachment motion on Saturday with 204 votes in favor, 85 against, three abstentions, and eight invalid ballots. Given that the opposition bloc holds 192 seats out of the 300-member Assembly, the result suggests that 12 PPP lawmakers likely voted in favor of impeachment, despite the party's official stance to oppose it.

After the vote, Han faced growing pressure from within his own party to step down, and eventually, he succumbed to the demands.

"I am stepping down as the leader of the PPP. I tried to find a better path for this country other than impeachment, but I could not. It's all because of my shortcomings. I'm sorry," Han said during a press conference, Monday. "It has become impossible to carry out my duties as party chief due to the collapse of the party's Supreme Council. I sincerely apologize to all the people who suffered due to the emergency martial law incident."

Han initially vowed to continue his duties right after the vote, but was forced to resign after five members of the PPP's Supreme Council expressed their intent to step down. If at least four of the council members resign, the leadership is dissolved and the party needs to form an emergency response committee system, according to its regulations.

He previously served as justice minister from May 2022 to December 2023 and played a key role as an anti-corruption prosecutor alongside Yoon in securing convictions for former presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak, Samsung executive chairman Lee Jae-yong and the family members of former justice minister Cho Kuk.

However, Han said he does not regret supporting the impeachment motion.

"I still have no regrets because I made a promise not to betray the Republic of Korea and its citizens no matter what," he said.

"Just because the martial law is wrong, it does not justify the Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) reckless legislative move and its leader Lee Jae-myung's criminal charges. The clock is ticking for Lee's sentencing trial," Han said, referring to multiple trials Lee is undergoing over his Election Law violation and other allegations.

Ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, left, shakes hands with floor leader Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, before leaving the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Joint Press Corps

PPP lawmakers had been heavily divided over whether to vote in favor or against the impeachment. The pro-Yoon faction within the party, including newly elected floor leader Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, argued that all members should vote against the motion, while Han and many others pushed for a change in the PPP's official stance.

Following Han's resignation, Kweon will become the interim leader of the PPP. He has the authority to appoint the head of an emergency leadership committee of the party.

Prior to his political career, Kweon worked as a prosecutor and served at the Ministry of Justice.

Political analysts said it is inevitable for Han to step aside for a while until the Constitutional Court decides whether to formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him.

"I think Han will have to wait for his time to come. Korea may hold a snap election next year if the Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment, but Han won't be considered a PPP candidate for the next presidency. And I highly doubt he will leave the party and run as an independent candidate," said Park Chang-hwan, political commentator and professor at Jangan University.

"If the PPP loses the snap election, there will be a lot of frustration and self-reflection within the party. There would be calls for Han to return to the party leadership, and he could be reelected at the national convention. Sometimes people only learn after they fail."