Kwon Youngse Protests Three-Year Suspension of Party Membership, Calls It "Unacceptable"

Party Affairs Audit Committee: "Replacing the Candidate Violates Party Constitution and Regulations"
"Factional Decision... Those Responsible Will Certainly Be Held Accountable"

On July 25, Kwon Youngse, a member of the People Power Party, protested the party affairs audit committee's request for a "three-year suspension of party membership" as disciplinary action regarding the attempt to replace the presidential candidate, calling it "an unacceptable decision."

On the same day, Kwon stated on his social networking service (SNS), "I am confident that this will definitely be corrected," and added, "Those who led this factional decision will certainly be held appropriately accountable."

Kwon Youngse, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is adjusting his glasses at the party members' meeting held at the National Assembly on May 8, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Earlier that day, Yoo Iljun, chairman of the party affairs audit committee, held a briefing at the Yeouido central party headquarters and defined the attempt to replace the presidential candidate that occurred within the party ahead of the June 3 presidential election as a violation of the party constitution and regulations. Accordingly, the committee decided to request the party ethics committee to impose a three-year suspension of party membership on Kwon, who was then the emergency committee chairman, and Lee Yangsoo, who was then the secretary-general.

According to the People Power Party's constitution and regulations, disciplinary actions are divided into four levels: expulsion, recommendation to leave the party, suspension of party membership, and warning. Suspension of party membership is a disciplinary measure that restricts a member's right to vote, right to be elected, and right to vote at the party convention for a certain period, which is stipulated to be between one month and three years.

The disciplinary case decided by the party affairs audit committee is referred to the party ethics committee. The ethics committee must convene within 10 days of receiving the case from the audit committee and must decide on the level of disciplinary action within one month.