Tensions have flared up between the former ruling party chief Han Dong-hoon and the presidential office due to allegations that Han ignored text messages from the first lady Kim Keon Hee earlier this year. These allegations have the potential to overshadow the upcoming national convention of the party. The first lady reportedly reached out to Han to offer a resolution to a controversy surrounding her acceptance of a luxury bag in 2022, expressing her willingness to make a public apology if deemed necessary by the party. Han, who is now a candidate in the party's upcoming leadership election, denies any wrongdoing and insists that he communicated his stance on the matter through official channels rather than responding directly to the first lady's messages. However, rival candidates have seized on this controversy to criticize Han, claiming that his actions contributed to the party's significant defeat in the previous general elections. The presidential office has strongly denied any interference in the party's election process and urged candidates to refrain from involving the office in the campaign. Additionally, there were reports of a group of pro-Yoon members of the party considering a petition and press conference to demand Han's withdrawal from the race, which was later canceled following a warning from the party's election management committee. This recent clash over the first lady's messages is not the first time Han and the president have had issues, as they previously clashed over the luxury bag allegations and the party's candidate nomination process for the general elections. Han, who was initially considered a close confidant of the president, has seen his relationship with the president sour over sensitive issues, leading to strained relations between the two.