Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon. Yonhap News

Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon said on the 30th, "I later learned that my family members had posted critical editorials and columns about former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife on the party's anonymous bulletin board."

Appearing on SBS radio on the day the party's disciplinary committee announced the results of its investigation into the so-called 'party bulletin board incident,' Han stated, "I did not know at the time (when the posts were made)."

The 'party bulletin board incident' refers to the allegation that Han's family was involved in writing posts on the People Power Party's bulletin board last November, which were critical of former President Yoon and his wife.

The People Power Party's disciplinary committee announced in a press release that day, "The problematic accounts were identical to those of five family members of former leader Han, and it was confirmed that 87.6% of the posts were made from just two internet protocols (IPs), indicating manipulation of public opinion," officially confirming Han's responsibility in the incident.

However, Han countered, "The announcement by the party's disciplinary committee today, implying that I myself wrote posts under my name, is a clear fabrication as I have never even registered on the party's website."

He also claimed that Jang Dong-hyuk, the party leader, was aware of the full details of the matter beforehand and had acted as an "ally" before their political separation.

Han stated, "At the end of last year, when there were various attacks to remove me as party leader, a so-called 'Kim Ok-gyun Project,' I explained the situation of the party bulletin board to Representative Jang Dong-hyuk, whom I trusted at the time."

He continued, "At that time, Representative Jang went on various broadcasts and strongly explained that 'there is no problem with posts written on an anonymous bulletin board.' I was very disappointed to see him bring this up again for political attack after becoming party leader."

Former leader Han Dong-hoon talking with Representative Jang Dong-hyuk. Yonhap News

When asked why he hadn't revealed the full details for the past year, he replied, "The bulletin board is something the party allows members to use for anonymous posting. We should not set a precedent of later identifying individuals who post criticisms of the government or powerful figures."

When asked if he intended to apologize to party members, he drew a line, stating, "Posting a column arguing that we must properly address former President Yoon and First Lady Kim Keon-hee is not inherently wrong."

He added, "If my family posting under their names is something to be criticized, then blame me because I am a politician. My family should not be blamed."

Reactions within the party were sharply divided regarding the disciplinary committee's announcement.

Kim Jong-hyuk, a former supreme council member and a supporter of Han, criticized the announcement on Facebook, saying, "It is surprising that Lee Ho-sun (chairman of the disciplinary committee) made this announcement on the very day Democratic Party floor leader Kim Byung-ki resigned, and the political judgment raises suspicions of deliberate timing. It would be difficult to cause so much trouble in succession."

Conversely, Jang Ye-chan, deputy director of the Yeouido Institute, who was appointed by Jang Dong-hyuk, wrote on Facebook, "At this point, one should retire from politics out of shame. It is truly devastating that such a person briefly represented the People Power Party."

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the New Reform Party and former leader of the People Power Party, criticized the disciplinary committee's findings that Han's family had also written libelous posts against him, stating, "I will consider this the action of someone with eccentric hobbies operating under another identity in a dark corner."