Han Gil Jeon: "I'm actually the victim...
The candidate targeted me first"
Ahn Cheolsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, is giving a speech at the joint rally of the People Power Party for the Chungcheong and Honam regions held at Paichai University in Seo-gu, Daejeon on the afternoon of the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News
The People Power Party's Central Ethics Committee issued a "warning" to Han Gil Jeon, a Korean history instructor who disrupted the joint speech session at the party convention. In response, candidate Ahn Cheolsoo expressed outrage, calling it "a day of disgrace for the People Power Party."
On August 14, Ahn Cheolsoo, a candidate for the People Power Party leadership, wrote on his Facebook page, "They issued a warning to a troublemaker who caused a disturbance in front of the party members from Daegu and North Gyeongsang, the heart of conservatism. This is someone who should have been driven out with salt, not merely warned," expressing his anger.
He continued, "We must cut ties to survive. If we can't even sever ties with a handful of extreme YouTubers, how can we revive the party and regain the public's trust? I am burning with anger inside," he added.
Han Gil Jeon: "I'm actually the victim... The candidate targeted me first"
Meanwhile, on the same day, the People Power Party's Ethics Committee issued a warning to Han Gil Jeon. A warning is the lightest disciplinary action, following expulsion, recommendation to leave the party, and suspension of party membership.
Kookmin Party instructor Han Gil Jeon, who was referred to the party ethics committee for disrupting the joint speech session of the party convention, is attending the ethics committee held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 14th while broadcasting live on YouTube. Photo by Yonhap News
Yeo Sangwon, chair of the Ethics Committee, told reporters at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, "Mr. Jeon has no prior offenses, deeply reflected on his wrongdoing, and promised that it would not happen again," explaining the reasoning behind the disciplinary action.
He added, "The emergency committee chair argued that, considering the party's image and various factors, a severe punishment was necessary. However, the Ethics Committee believed that fairness was important. Since there was no physical violence and proceeding with heavier disciplinary action would be excessive, we decided on a warning."
Before appearing before the Ethics Committee to provide an explanation, Han Gil Jeon told reporters, "During the convention, the supreme council candidate targeted me first, and I am actually the victim, but I have been wrongly portrayed as the perpetrator. I do not want division within the People Power Party and have never incited violence," he asserted.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
