Han Dong-hoon's memoir, titled "The People Come First," was released on Wednesday. Yonhap

Han Dong-hoon, a prosecutor-turned-politician, is back with his memoir, titled "The People Come First," which hit bookstores on Wednesday. His return to politics comes more than two months after he was forced to step down as leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Dec. 16. His resignation followed a major rift within the party over the passage of a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol at the National Assembly.

As is often the case in politics, every move is motivated by political calculations — and Han's book release is no exception. His memoir is more than just a literary work; it signals his ambition, if not eagerness, to run in the PPP's primary to select its candidate should an early presidential election occur. The book was released a day after the Constitutional Court held its final hearing on the impeachment trial of the president, who has been suspended from his presidential duties and is under investigation on insurrection charges.

Whether Han's presidential aspirations will come to fruition remains uncertain. The decision on whether an early presidential election will take place lies with the Constitutional Court's eight justices, who are expected to rule on Yoon's impeachment in mid-March. If Yoon is impeached, a presidential election will be held within two months. If not, he will immediately return to the presidency.

Regardless of how the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: Time is not on Han's side. Once a popular figure, his public appeal has waned significantly. Recent polls show that he is no longer seen as the standard-bearer of the conservative party. A Gallup poll conducted from Feb. 18 to 20 found Rep. Lee Jae-myung, head of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), leading with 34 percent support. He is followed by Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo (9 percent) and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo (5 percent). Han is tied with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon for fourth place, each with 4 percent support. The poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, indicates a trend consistent with other recent surveys that show Kim leading among potential conservative candidates.

This trend suggests that Han must start from scratch to rebuild his support base among conservative voters. However, this could prove to be a steep challenge. As demonstrated by the anti-impeachment protests sweeping the nation, conservatives have rallied to help Yoon return to the presidency. Even during the impeachment trial, Yoon's approval ratings soared.

Han's strained relationship with Yoon — evident in December when Han, then serving as PPP leader, encouraged his loyalists to vote for the motion to impeach Yoon — has become a major obstacle to regaining his support within the conservative camp. Yoon's supporters view Han as a "spoiled politician" who owes much of his political career to Yoon but openly turned against him. Overcoming this deep-seated resentment among PPP supporters will be crucial for Han, as it plays a significant role in eroding his political base.

Han's memoir details his 14-day account of Yoon's martial law declaration on Dec. 3 and the political turmoil it caused. The martial law decree shook Korean politics, including the PPP, and ultimately led to the premature end of Han's leadership within the ruling party.

In the book, Han describes Lee as a dangerous politician who would go to any lengths to stay in power, if elected in a possible early presidential election. "If he were to take office and gain control of both the government and the National Assembly, he would do anything to protect himself from the legal risks threatening his political career," Han wrote. "He could declare martial law, or attempt to revise relevant laws to clear himself of the charges he is currently facing."

Han seems to be targeting Lee, currently the frontrunner in the presidential race, in an effort to shape the potential presidential competition into a two-way contest between himself and the DPK leader. However, it remains uncertain whether this strategy will succeed. Han must prove himself as a politician with the leadership qualities necessary to navigate Korea's current polycrisis, managing it effectively to ensure the country's continued prosperity. This time, he must do so on his own, as there seems to be no one left to assist him.