People Power Party Junior Lawmakers: "Han Donghoon's Surprise Expulsion Is Cowardly and Base... Must Be Reconsidered"

"An Anti-Constitutional Act That Destroys Party Democracy"
Call for a General Assembly of Lawmakers Before Supreme Council Meeting

On January 14, the 'Alternatives and Future' group, a gathering of junior lawmakers from the People Power Party, called on party leader Jang Donghyuk to reconsider the Central Ethics Committee's decision to expel former leader Han Donghoon and to convene a general assembly of lawmakers.

At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office that day, members of Alternatives and Future strongly urged Leader Jang and the Supreme Council to reconsider the Ethics Committee's decision to expel former leader Han. They also requested that a general assembly of lawmakers be convened to gather opinions before the Supreme Council meets regarding the Ethics Committee's decision.

Members of the 'Alternative and Future,' a group of young first-term lawmakers from the People Power Party, held a press conference on the 14th at the National Assembly Communication Office regarding the expulsion of former leader Han Donghoon, which was decided by the People Power Party Ethics Committee early that day. Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding the disciplinary action against former leader Han, they criticized it as "anti-constitutional and anti-democratic, destroying party democracy and undermining party unity." They argued, "Expelling a party member for a post on the party bulletin board, which allows anyone to freely express political opinions anonymously, is a suppression of freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution."

They also pointed out procedural issues in the expulsion decision. They said, "Making a surprise decision to expel a former party leader late at night and releasing it through select media outlets is cowardly and base," insisting that "it goes against the principles of democracy and common sense of the people."

They went on to reference Leader Jang's remarks from the renewal plan on January 7, in which he said, "I will open my mind and join forces with anyone," and argued, "This Ethics Committee decision directly contradicts the spirit of Leader Jang's reform plan. How can you expel a former party leader and then claim to unite with others to stop the dictatorship of the Lee Jaemyung administration?"

Song Seokjun, a member of Alternatives and Future, met with reporters after the statement and condemned the expulsion, saying, "What is the point of expelling former leader Han, who is fighting most directly against the ruling party's dictatorship? This goes beyond internal strife and amounts to serious self-harm and self-destruction." He added, "It is no different from imprisoning Admiral Yi Sunshin, whom the Japanese feared most. We must thoroughly investigate why this happened by convening a general assembly of lawmakers."

Lee Seongkwon, the group's secretary, also criticized at the scene, "Can moderates support the People Power Party now? If you expel someone for an unacceptable reason, you are following in the footsteps of former President Yoon Sukyeol."

At around 11 a.m., they submitted a request to the floor leadership's administrative office to convene a general assembly of lawmakers. They also plan to officially request a meeting with Leader Jang.

Bae Hyunjin, a People Power Party lawmaker, also met with reporters after the party's Seoul Metropolitan Chapter New Year's meeting at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul, and said, "This is no different from the attempt to replace the presidential candidate during the last election," adding, "As a lawmaker, I request the convening of a general assembly of lawmakers."

Assemblywoman Bae insisted that former leader Han should file for a retrial and an injunction to suspend the disciplinary action. She said, "The Ethics Committee made this decision after losing its function as a legitimate legal body of the party. Filing for a retrial and an injunction will not only clarify the unfairness faced by former leader Han but also give hope to many voters that the party can move forward again in the local elections."

The statement released that day was signed by 23 People Power Party lawmakers, including Song Seokjun, Lee Seongkwon, Ko Dongjin, Kwon Youngjin, Kim Gun, Kim Sungwon, Kim Sohui, Kim Yongtae, Kim Jaeseop, Kim Hyungdong, Park Jungha, Park Junghoon, Bae Junyoung, Seo Beomsoo, Shin Sungbeom, Ahn Sanghoon, Um Taeyoung, Woo Jaejun, Yoo Yongwon, Jung Yeonuk, Cho Eunhee, Jin Jongoh, and Choi Hyungdoo.