[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Song Eon-seok, a member of the People Power Party who caused controversy by verbally abusing and kicking party officials on the day of the April 7 by-elections and subsequently left the party, has applied for reinstatement.
It has been just over two months since Song announced his departure from the People Power Party on April 14, saying, "I am leaving the party to avoid bringing shame to it."
Since Song voluntarily left the party before any disciplinary actions such as expulsion were taken, there is no need to go through the Supreme Council's approval process separately.
Lee Man-hee, the chairman of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Party Committee, plans to make the final decision on Song's reinstatement after gathering opinions from surrounding figures and party members. However, party officials who had demanded Song's expulsion at the time are strongly opposed, so difficulties are expected during the decision-making process.
At the time, Song, who was the secretary-general to Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in, visited the central party headquarters' situation room to watch the vote count broadcast but kicked the shin of a party secretariat staff member multiple times because his seat was not prepared. Facing a flood of disciplinary demands both inside and outside the party, Song abruptly left the party, saying he felt "heartbroken and conflicted."
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