Ryu Ho-jeong "Kicked out of Justice Party group chat... No impact from insults and mockery"

Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop and Justice Party proportional representative lawmaker Ryu Ho-jeong, who is pushing for the establishment of a new party, were reportedly forcibly removed from the Justice Party group chat.

Ryu Ho-jeong, Justice Party member [Photo by Yonhap News]

According to political circles on the 16th, Ryu stated in a recent media interview, "I was forcibly expelled from the Telegram group chat of the Justice Party's National Assembly members," adding, "The aides of the lawmakers' offices were also all kicked out."

The forced removal from the group chat reportedly took place on the 8th, shortly after the 'Third Power' faction, to which Ryu belongs, declared the formation of a new party with former lawmaker Geum. Some Justice Party members are said to have sent messages containing criticism and ridicule toward former lawmaker Ryu in the group chat.

On the 14th, the Justice Party adopted a resolution demanding that Ryu resign from her lawmaker position and sever her party affiliation, stating that if she does not leave the party, she will be referred to the disciplinary committee tomorrow.

Kim Ga-young, deputy spokesperson for the Justice Party, criticized, "Ryu should stop her shameful behavior of cheating taxes through tricks and loopholes and abusing her proportional representative position for personal gain," adding, "That would somewhat align with the 'new politics' she claimed to represent."

If Ryu leaves the party, the Justice Party can transfer her proportional representative seat to another candidate, but if she is expelled from the party, she retains her lawmaker position.

Ryu plans to remain in the Justice Party for the time being without leaving and intends to persuade other party members to join the new party. In a media interview, she stated, "There will definitely be no resignation," adding, "Former party leaders send messages late at night containing half curses and criticism. Such attacks do not affect me. I ask the party leadership to respond calmly instead of emotionally."