"Unfortunate Events Continued After Martial Law, Returning to My Original Profession by Giving Up Privilege"
Stood Firm Despite Leadership's Persuasion... Parliamentary Seat to Be Succeeded by Lee Sohee
Assemblyman John Linton of the People Power Party expressed disappointment with the party's response to the December 3 Martial Law incident and resigned from his parliamentary position.
On the morning of December 10, Assemblyman Linton held a press conference at the National Assembly, stating, "I hope to leave my position as a lawmaker and return to my original profession." Despite efforts by party leadership, including leader Jang Donghyuk, to dissuade him, he reportedly did not withdraw his intention to resign.
Assemblyman Linton said, "Political actions that merely follow partisan logic are making things difficult for the people," and added, "I believe the unfortunate events that have continued over the past year since the imposition of martial law by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration are challenges that must be overcome for the future of South Korea." Assemblyman Linton entered the National Assembly in April last year as the eighth candidate on the proportional representation list of "People's Future," a satellite party of the People Power Party. With his resignation, he is stepping down after one year and six months in office. Lee Sohee, former member of the Sejong City Council and next in line on the proportional representation list, is expected to succeed him. Within the People Power Party, there is internal conflict over whether to approach the public with an apology on the first anniversary of the December 3 Martial Law or to maintain that an apology is unnecessary. Assemblyman Linton's abrupt resignation is likely to become a new variable in the party's ongoing internal strife.
The People Power Party's Party Affairs Audit Committee has also sparked controversy by releasing interim findings regarding the so-called "party member bulletin board allegations" related to former party leader Han Donghoon. On December 9, Committee Chair Lee Hosun issued an urgent notice stating, "We are currently verifying the actual authorship of posts reportedly made under the names of former leader Han and his family." Upon reviewing the party membership list, it was found that three party members using the same names as Han's family had identical last four digits in their mobile phone numbers. The pro-Han (Han Donghoon) faction suspects political motives. Even within the party, there is disappointment over the political judgment involved. A senior lawmaker from the Seoul metropolitan area commented, "At a time when we should be intensifying our struggle against the ruling party over issues like the Daejang-dong appeal withdrawal or the Unification Church, the infighting is sapping our momentum and leading us into a difficult situation."
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