Kang Seung-gyu Opposes Yoon's Expulsion Ethics Committee Meeting... "Han Misunderstands Party Leader's Authority"

Warning Not to Act Rashly Toward Han

Seung-gyu Kang, a member of the People Power Party, criticized Han Dong-hoon, the party leader, for unilaterally convening the Ethics Committee to expel President Yoon Seok-yeol, saying, "He is confusing the authority of the party leader."

On the 12th, Kang stated this on social media (SNS) and urged, "I sincerely call on Ethics Committee Chair Shin Euijin and the committee members to conduct the meeting according to the established procedures without external pressure."

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He criticized, "They say they will hold the Ethics Committee meeting late at night today," adding, "It seems they plan to expel the party's No. 1 member, the president, without any discussion or opinion-gathering process, like lightning."

Kang argued that filing a complaint against the president to the Ethics Committee is not stipulated in the party constitution or regulations. He said, "For example, in the case of a member of the National Assembly, expulsion requires not only the Ethics Committee's resolution but also an additional approval of two-thirds or more at the party caucus meeting," adding, "Therefore, expelling the president, who is the party's No. 1 member, requires more in-depth discussion than for National Assembly members."

He referred to the time in 2017 under party leader Hong Joon-pyo's administration when the Innovation Committee was established to cross the 'River of Impeachment' and discuss the expulsion of President Park Geun-hye. He said, "For this, after intense debates lasting nearly four months, including meetings with regional party branches, meetings among first-term, second-term, and senior lawmakers, and meetings with civil society, a 'recommendation to leave the party' measure was taken," adding, "Even after that, there was no breakup between the party and former President Park Geun-hye, but only a deepening rift among supporters."

Kang had previously posted on SNS criticizing Leader Han, saying, "The People Power Party is a responsible ruling party and a public party. It is not a private party where the party leader exercises unilateral dictatorship." He warned Han, who stated that the party should support impeachment as the party line, "Do not act rashly," and criticized, "The position of the ruling party leader, who must navigate the impeachment crisis, is not a place to engage in 'self-politics'."

Kang said, "In a situation where the political landscape is swept by another rapid current, Leader Han suddenly announced the 'president's impeachment' claim," adding, "Immediately after the president's statement, he ordered the convening of the party Ethics Committee with the aim of expelling the president from the party." He also pointed out, "Even at the party caucus meeting where the floor leader election began, he criticized the president's statement as a 'confession of rebellion' and proposed pushing for 'support of impeachment' as the party line," calling it "a truly reckless act for the ruling party leader who should be managing the crisis."

He criticized that Han made radical claims like a declaration of war against the president and the party without any consultation with party members or going through the process of gathering consensus. Kang raised his voice, saying, "How can one cause the party to fall into chaos again unless they are blindly following the Democratic Party's political offensive?"