Is 'Lee Jun-seok's Expulsion' Next Step?... Ruling Party Ethics Committee Initiates Additional Disciplinary Procedures (Comprehensive)

Ethics Committee on Former Representative Lee: "Use of Insulting and Critical Expressions" "Hindrance to Party Unity"

Lee Jun-seok, former leader of the People Power Party (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] The People Power Party's Central Ethics Committee held an emergency meeting on the 18th and initiated additional disciplinary procedures against former party leader Lee Jun-seok.

The Ethics Committee announced in a press release that day, "We are initiating disciplinary procedures against party member Lee Jun-seok." The meeting was held at the National Assembly from 3 p.m. for three hours.

Chairman of the Ethics Committee Lee Yang-hee explained regarding the additional discipline of former leader Lee, "He used insulting and critical expressions without objective grounds against party members, party-affiliated lawmakers, and party organizations, and engaged in harmful acts to the party by undermining party unity and damaging the party's dignity due to suspicions of legal violations."

Former leader Lee had criticized President Yoon Seok-yeol and others, using expressions such as 'Gaegogi' (dog meat), 'Yangduguyuk' (a phrase meaning 'sheep's head and dog meat'), and 'Shingunbu' (new military regime). In response, People Power Party lawmakers demanded additional disciplinary action against Lee at a lawmakers' meeting held on the 27th of last month.

On the 1st, the Ethics Committee hinted at additional disciplinary action against former leader Lee in a statement. The committee said, "We respect the opinion of the People Power Party lawmakers' meeting on the 27th of last month, which strongly condemned and warned the Ethics Committee about Lee Jun-seok's remarks such as 'Gaegogi,' 'Yangduguyuk,' and 'Shingunbu,' which caused humiliation to party members, and urged the Ethics Committee to promptly handle additional disciplinary action."

Before the Ethics Committee meeting that day, former leader Lee said on Facebook, "Today again, they will take reckless measures for the benefit of Yoonhakkwan (key figures close to President Yoon Seok-yeol). As expected."

The Ethics Committee had originally scheduled a meeting on the 28th but held an additional emergency meeting that day. When People Power Party officials said the emergency meeting was "unconfirmed information," former leader Lee criticized, "Is there a reason to hold an Ethics Committee meeting while hiding even whether it will be held? Wow. Right after the president's departure." President Yoon departed that day for a tour of the UK, the US, and Canada.

Former leader Lee has already been suspended from party membership for six months, so if additional disciplinary action is taken, he can only receive a harsher penalty, leaving only 'recommendation to leave the party' or 'expulsion' as options. He had previously mentioned a 'scenario of expulsion.' On the 15th, on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' he said, "In my view, they will create a pretext and make an expulsion scenario, saying 'He is no longer a party member.' I expect another remarkable reckless move this time as well."

The disciplinary review for former leader Lee is planned to take place later. Chairman Lee emphasized in a meeting with reporters, "I don't know if the decision on the disciplinary level will be made on the 28th," adding, "Since he is a former leader, he must appear in person and have the opportunity to present his defense."