Yeo Sangwon: "If There Is Another Demand for Disciplinary Action, We Will Decide Then"
Routine Discussion of Disciplinary Measures for Incumbent Lawmakers, District Heads, and Local Councilors
The People Power Party Central Ethics Committee has concluded the disciplinary procedures, including expulsion and removal, against President Yoon Suk-yeol, which were initiated at the end of last year at the request of then-party leader Han Dong-hoon, and decided not to impose any disciplinary action.
On the 13th, after the first meeting at the People Power Party Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul, Ethics Committee Chairperson Yeo Sang-won responded to reporters' questions about whether they discussed recommending President Yoon's withdrawal from the party by saying, "(The previous ethics committee) concluded it," adding, "If there is a demand for disciplinary action again, we will decide then, but since the disciplinary action that was already initiated has been concluded, we decided not to discipline."
Chairperson Yeo explained that they only discussed disciplinary issues concerning incumbent members of the National Assembly, district heads, and local councilors, and did not discuss disciplinary measures against President Yoon. When asked whether they discussed disciplining lawmakers Kim Sang-wook and Ahn Cheol-soo, who voted in favor of the impeachment motion against party policy, she denied it, saying, "There were no cases we were particularly interested in at the moment, and we talked about routine matters and issues that had already been subject to disciplinary resolutions and could not be left unaddressed."
Regarding the disciplinary matters discussed that day, Chairperson Yeo said, "They were about policies or expressions of opinion," and explained, "For us, it was not an issue that could be easily decided because we had to comprehensively consider freedom of expression, the party's identity, and the opinions of residents."
When asked about the results of the meeting, she said, "It is difficult to speak specifically," and added, "I am not sure if I can speak again when the disciplinary resolution is issued later."
The Ethics Committee meeting was the first held since the launch of the Kwon Young-se leadership on December 30 last year. The committee consists of a total of nine members, six or more of whom are external figures.
Regarding the atmosphere of the introductory meeting and the first session among the ethics committee members that day, she said, "It was a formal greeting. Ethics committee members should maintain neutrality and fairness as much as possible, so they must not reveal political bias," adding, "Although it might show inwardly when making decisions later, outwardly, political tendencies should not be displayed. Today, one member even recused themselves because it was a matter they were well acquainted with."
The next Ethics Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at the party office on the 13th of next month.
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