"Further Investigation Needed on Han Donghoon Party Member Bulletin Board Controversy"
On December 16, the People Power Party’s Party Affairs Audit Committee decided to recommend to the party’s Ethics Committee that Kim Jonghyuk, head of the Goyang-byeong district committee in Gyeonggi Province and a key ally of Han Donghoon, be suspended from party membership for two years.
Lee Hosun, Chair of the Party Affairs Audit Committee, announced at a briefing held at the party headquarters in Yeouido on this day, “We have decided to refer Chairman Kim Jonghyuk to the Ethics Committee for violating the party constitution, party regulations, and ethical rules.”
The Party Affairs Audit Committee explained that the disciplinary action was decided because Kim appeared on multiple media outlets between September and October and compared the party to an extreme regime, as well as making insulting remarks about party members. Lee stated, “He compared the People Power Party to the Workers’ Party of North Korea and described the party’s operations as fascist,” adding, “He also made religiously discriminatory comments about party members, such as claiming they joined under the influence of a pseudo-religious leader.”
Insulting remarks about the party leader were also cited as a reason. Lee said, “He used disparaging expressions about Chairman Jang Donghyuk, such as saying he barely got elected, sold his soul, was playing both sides, and was two-timing,” adding, “He also openly declared his intention to defy the party line.”
The Party Affairs Audit Committee determined that Kim’s remarks went beyond simple criticism and amounted to stigmatization. Chairman Kim said, “Using terms like ‘fascist,’ ‘delusional patient,’ and ‘pseudo follower’ turns the other party into an object of exclusion, not dialogue or debate, and is a classic tactic to dehumanize political opponents. Repeatedly making such claims through external media without going through internal party debate is an act of agitation that circumvents party procedures and is a typical example of self-serving politics that sacrifices one’s own party to strengthen one’s political standing.”
The recommendation was made with five out of the seven members of the Party Affairs Audit Committee present. Disciplinary action suspending party membership in the People Power Party can range from a minimum of one month to a maximum of three years. The party’s Ethics Committee will make a final decision based on the investigation by the Party Affairs Audit Committee.
Meanwhile, the Party Affairs Audit Committee also discussed the so-called “party member bulletin board” incident involving former Chairman Han Donghoon, but decided to continue the investigation. Lee added, “We have reviewed the investigation materials because the process is still ongoing,” and “For now, establishing the facts takes priority.”
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