Suspicion of Evidence Tampering in Related Case Raised
Disciplinary Procedure Initiated for Kim Cheol-geun, Political Affairs Director
Interpreted as Step Toward Actual Disciplinary Action
Lee Expresses Discomfort at Supreme Council Meeting
Innovation Committee Approved... Official Launch Today
Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, is pushing away the hand of Bae Hyun-jin, a Supreme Council member, who offered a handshake while attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 23rd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy reporters Hyunju Lee and Hyunji Kwon] The People Power Party's Central Ethics Committee postponed the disciplinary decision regarding Representative Lee Jun-seok's alleged 'sexual bribery and evidence destruction instruction' by two weeks on the 22nd, leading to interpretations that this is effectively a step toward disciplinary action. The Ethics Committee initiated disciplinary procedures against Kim Cheol-geun, the party representative's political affairs chief, for violating the duty to maintain dignity amid allegations of evidence destruction, implying responsibility on the part of Representative Lee. After the Ethics Committee meeting, Lee briefly mentioned only the launch of the Innovation Committee during the Supreme Council meeting, showing signs of discomfort.
The People Power Party Ethics Committee held a five-hour meeting from 7 p.m. the previous day but did not reach a conclusion on whether to discipline Representative Lee. They announced that they would hold another meeting on the 7th of next month to hear his explanation before making a decision.
When the disciplinary review was postponed by two weeks, Representative Lee refrained from speaking unusually at the Supreme Council meeting held on the 23rd. In his opening remarks, he said briefly, "Today is the day the Innovation Committee is launched," adding, "I hope that through the Innovation Committee's activities, we will not only win the presidential and local elections but also firmly lay the foundation to become the majority in the legislature." After the meeting, he skipped the Q&A session with reporters and moved directly to the party representative's office. He did not mention the Ethics Committee even once.
Within the party, there were interpretations that the Ethics Committee's decision to postpone was a prelude to disciplining Representative Lee. Some view it as a stepwise process starting with disciplining Kim Cheol-geun, the political affairs chief, followed by disciplinary action against Representative Lee. This is likely to be a means to tame Lee among the People Power Party's traditional support base, the 60s and 70s generation.
Because of this, strong criticism of the Ethics Committee arose within the People Power Party. Kim Yong-tae, the party's youth supreme council member, said on a radio show that day, "Common sense would dictate that the Ethics Committee should not immediately initiate disciplinary procedures but request an investigation from the party audit office so that the party itself can ascertain the facts separately from investigative agencies," adding, "Declaring the initiation of disciplinary procedures without any investigation is itself an irrational act by the Ethics Committee." Representative Ha Tae-kyung also criticized on another radio show that day, saying, "The Ethics Committee is engaging in self-harming politics and humiliating Lee Jun-seok." Former floor leader Kim Ki-hyun said, "This cannot go on for long," and added, "As a responsible ruling party, I think it would be better to find a way to land smoothly as soon as possible."
On the 23rd, Baek Hyun-jin, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, struck the shoulder of Representative Lee Jun-seok while attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly. Representative Lee refused to shake hands with Baek during the meeting as a form of greeting. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
There is growing weight to the expectation that internal party strife will continue. The pro-Yoon Seok-yeol (pro-Yoon) faction is pressuring for the party leader's resignation, raising the possibility of an early party convention. However, there is also considerable opposition arguing that this would rather weaken the newly launched Yoon Seok-yeol administration.
On this day, the People Power Party Supreme Council approved the Innovation Committee chaired by Representative Choi Jae-hyung, a former head of the Board of Audit and Inspection. Although initially criticized as an 'Lee Jun-seok private organization,' the committee consists of 14 members, including three-term Representative Jo Hae-jin as vice-chairman and one person recommended by each supreme council member. Before the approval, Representative Choi said, "I promise party innovation for the success of the general election and the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's successful governance."
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