"Have You Forgotten the Lesson of Expelling Lee Junseok?"
Oh Sehoon, the Mayor of Seoul, criticized the People Power Party for choosing what he described as a "path to mutual destruction" after the party decided to expel former leader Han Donghoon.
On January 15, Mayor Oh wrote on Facebook, "At a time when the party should be demonstrating self-restraint and reflection, the People Power Party is instead displaying division and conflict, heading down an abnormal path-a path to mutual destruction."
Previously, the party's ethics committee had defined the so-called "party member bulletin board incident," which involved former leader Han's family, as "public opinion manipulation" and made the highest-level decision of expulsion. Han Donghoon criticized this in a press conference, calling it an "expulsion based on fabricated allegations."
In response, Mayor Oh stated, "On the very day the special prosecutor demanded the death penalty for former President Yoon Sukyeol, the People Power Party's ethics committee decided to expel former leader Han. The public is feeling deep despair and disappointment at such an unfamiliar sight from the party."
He continued, "Former leader Han needs to provide explanations that party members can accept. Please first establish the grounds for unity and reconciliation." Addressing leader Jang Donghyuk, he said, "It is time to stop. You must lead the party with greater leadership," and reiterated, "Expulsion means mutual destruction."
Additionally, Mayor Oh asked, "Have you forgotten the painful lesson of forcibly driving out former leader Lee Junseok, who was an ally for party unity, only to see the party ultimately collapse?"
He added, "We must not hesitate to break away from our painful past. Only by uniting all factions and standing up to arrogant, overwhelming power can we protect our country and our people."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
