The People Power Party’s Party Audit Committee recommended on the 16th that former Supreme Council member Kim Jong-hyeok face a severe disciplinary action of a two-year suspension of party membership to the party’s Ethics Committee, citing his “actions and remarks contrary to party doctrine” and other issues. Lee Ho-seon, the Party Audit Committee chairman appointed by People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok last September, wrote on his blog the day before, “A cow that has a habit of charging at people should be stoned to death.” Former Supreme Council member Kim is classified as part of the pro-Han faction, pro-Han faction, as he is close to former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon. He stated immediately after the announcement of the Party Audit Committee’s results, “I will take all possible political and legal actions.”
During the meeting that day, the Party Audit Committee deemed that former Supreme Council member Kim’s remarks criticizing former President Yoon Suk-yeol, leader Jang, and others in various media outlets violated the party’s constitution and regulations. His remarks about leader Jang, such as calling him a “barely elected party leader” and someone who “sold his soul for power and votes,” were judged as “defamatory expressions.” Statements like “people who joined our party under the orders of a pseudo-religious leader, Shincheonji” were recognized as “discriminatory expressions against a specific religion.”
Committee Chairman Lee explained the background of the severe disciplinary action when meeting with reporters that day, stating, “(Former Supreme Council member Kim’s actions and remarks) are a typical example of self-serving politics that sacrifices the party to strengthen his own political position.” He wrote on his blog the day before, “If a cow kills a person because the owner failed to control it, that cow should be stoned to death, and the owner should also be killed.” This was interpreted as a message targeting the pro-Han faction, which has been resisting the Party Audit Committee’s investigation, quoting a passage from the Old Testament’s *Exodus*.
Former leader Han stated after the disciplinary action results were announced that day, “Democracy cannot be stoned to death.” As the People Power Party’s Ethics Committee chairperson position is currently vacant, it is expected to take time before the disciplinary action against former Supreme Council member Kim is finalized. Although allegations that former leader Han’s family posted critical comments about former President Yoon and his wife on an anonymously operated party member bulletin board last year were also brought up as agenda items during that day’s Party Audit Committee meeting, no conclusion was reached.
Both inside and outside the party, criticisms are being raised that “the Party Audit Committee’s decision only fuels internal conflict.” A lawmaker from the capital region said, “We should consider how the public will perceive the party imposing severe disciplinary actions for criticizing former President Yoon, leader Jang, and Shincheonji.” People Power Party-affiliated Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok stated during a National Assembly discussion that day, “The public sentiment can be summarized as, ‘I can’t trust the Democratic Party. However, I trust the People Power Party even less. I can’t support it either,’” adding, “Especially, the party’s perception of reality regarding martial law and impeachment is far from the public sentiment.” It was reported that during a gathering of first-term People Power Party lawmakers, Representative Kim Yong-tae said, “Even if it’s in the names of the first-term lawmakers, we should issue a statement apologizing for the severance from former President Yoon and the martial law.”
National Integration Committee Chairman Lee Seok-yeon also met with leader Jang that day and said, “Please follow the will of the majority of the people and take the righteous path,” adding, “You don’t need to worry about the house rabbits, traditional supporters fleeing. If you follow the will of the majority of the people, I am confident that a new conservative support base will be firmly established.” Leader Jang responded, “Showing a more developed future than the past is the true apology and severance.” He said, “I was one of the 18 People Power Party lawmakers who participated in last year’s December 3 vote to lift martial law,” adding, “My stance on martial law can be sufficiently represented by that.”
Meanwhile, the People Power Party is reportedly reviewing a plan to maintain the party member vote reflection rate at 50% in next year’s June 3 local election primaries, with the remaining 50% reflecting the combined results of public opinion polls and votes from the national electorate. This is a compromise measure proposed after significant internal backlash against a plan to increase the party member vote weight from the existing 50% to 70%. However, there are also counterarguments within the party that “it lacks effectiveness.”
