Won Hee-ryong and Han Dong-hoon Defamation Battle... Democratic Party Ethics Committee "Strict Measures When Judging Relevant Actions"

Ethics Committee Holds Emergency Meeting to Discuss Response Direction
Election Commission Sends Official Letters of 'Caution and Correction Orders' to Won and Han
Possible Actual Disadvantages if Referred to Ethics Committee

The People Power Party Ethics Committee held an emergency meeting on the 13th to discuss a response strategy after the recent party convention escalated into a slander battle among candidates.

On the same day, Ethics Committee Chairperson Lee Yong-gu stated at a briefing held at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, "We have decided to promptly and strictly handle matters referred by the future party convention election management committee."

Won Hee-ryong (right) and Han Dong-hoon, candidates for the People Power Party leadership, are heading back to their seats after finishing a commemorative photo at the 4th Party Convention Daegu-Gyeongbuk joint speech meeting held at Daegu EXCO on the afternoon of the 12th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, the election management committee of the party convention determined that the slander battle between candidates Won Hee-ryong and Han Dong-hoon violated the 'obligation of fair competition' under the party constitution and regulations, and sent official letters containing 'warnings and corrective orders' to both candidates. If the election management committee refers the matter to the Ethics Committee as the next step after warnings and corrective orders, the candidates may face actual disadvantages such as exclusion from joint debates or discussions, regardless of disciplinary deliberations.

Chairperson Lee said, "The party convention should be a future-oriented platform presenting the party's vision to the public and party members, but the current reality deeply concerns both the public and party members." He added, "The Ethics Committee will strictly take action under the authority granted by the party constitution and regulations against violations of Article 20 of the Ethics Committee regulations, not only during the party convention period but also afterward, independently of the election management committee's measures."

The People Power Party's presidential candidates are taking a commemorative photo with Emergency Committee Chairman Hwang Woo-yeo and Election Management Chairman Seo Byung-soo at the 4th Party Convention Daegu-Gyeongbuk Joint Speech Meeting held at Daegu EXCO on the afternoon of the 12th. From the left: candidate Han Dong-hoon, candidate Won Hee-ryong, Chairman Seo, Emergency Committee Chairman Hwang, candidate Yoon Sang-hyun, candidate Na Kyung-won. [Photo by Yonhap News]

Article 20 of the People Power Party Ethics Committee regulations allows the initiation of disciplinary procedures against acts extremely harmful to the party or those that violate current laws, the party constitution, regulations, or ethics rules, causing obstacles to the party's development or resulting in public opinion turning away from the party.

Chairperson Lee stated, "Regardless of the election management committee's regulations, if three or more ethics committee members request disciplinary action, the disciplinary procedure can commence independently within the Ethics Committee."

Previously, Han Dong-hoon's campaign filed an objection to the election management committee's sanction decision, while Won Hee-ryong's campaign inquired with the election management committee to specify the details of the party regulation violations.