Han Donghoon’s Expulsion Sparks Turmoil... Oh Sehoon and Ahn Cheolsoo Say "There Is Still Time to Resolve"

Internal Strife Deepens Over People Power Party Ethics Committee's Expulsion of Han Donghoon
Oh Sehoon: "A Path Toward Mutual Destruction... Han Must Provide Grounds for Reconciliation"
Ahn Cheolsoo: "If Han Proves His Innocence, the Confusion Will

As internal conflict within the People Power Party intensifies over the Central Ethics Committee's decision to expel former leader Han Donghoon, senior party figures such as Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon and Assemblyman Ahn Cheolsoo have each urged Han to resolve his own issues. On the 15th, Mayor Oh wrote on his social media, "At a time when the People Power Party should demonstrate self-restraint and reflection, we are instead displaying division and conflict," adding, "We are heading down an abnormal path, a path of mutual destruction."

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Assemblyman Ahn Cheol-soo, both considered senior figures within the People Power Party, have each urged former party leader Han Dong-hoon to resolve his own issues following the Central Ethics Committee's decision to expel him. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Mayor Oh continued, "On the day the special prosecutor sought the death penalty for former President Yoon Sukyeol, the Ethics Committee decided to expel former leader Han. The public feels devastated and disappointed by these unfamiliar developments." He further stated, "Have we forgotten the painful lesson of forcibly expelling former leader Lee Junseok, our ally for unity, which ultimately led to our downfall? We must not hesitate to break with the past. All factions must unite to confront the arrogant, powerful opposition."

Addressing Han directly, Oh said, "You must provide an explanation that party members can accept. Please first establish a justification for unity and reconciliation," emphasizing, "It is also time for leader Jang Donghyuk to stop and lead the party with greater leadership."

On the same day, Assemblyman Ahn also wrote on social media, "The Ethics Committee decided to expel former leader Han over the party member bulletin board incident. Although the party's internal strife is deepening, I still believe there is time for Han to resolve this issue."

He argued, "If Han can personally prove that the two IP addresses identified as being used for opinion manipulation-which posted 1,400 messages under the names of five family members-are unrelated to him, the current confusion can be immediately resolved." He added, "Han should present the IP addresses related to himself to the server provider. This issue is not about conspiracy, hostility, or emotion. It is a matter that can be verified by fundamental facts."

Jang Donghyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting on the 15th, "In order to give former leader Han Donghoon an opportunity to apply for a retrial, the Supreme Council will not make a decision on the Ethics Committee's ruling until the retrial period." Photo by Kim Hyunmin

On the morning of the 14th, the People Power Party's Central Ethics Committee (chaired by Yoon Minwoo) decided to expel former leader Han over his involvement in the so-called 'party member bulletin board controversy.' This is the most severe measure among the four disciplinary actions specified in the party's regulations (expulsion, recommendation to leave the party, suspension of party membership, warning). The 'party member bulletin board controversy' centers on the fact that, in 2024, posts criticizing former President Yoon and his spouse were intensively uploaded to the party's bulletin board under the names of Han and his family members. Regarding this, leader Jang Donghyuk pointed out during a TV Chosun YouTube broadcast on the 13th, "The essence of the matter is opinion manipulation by a specific individual."

In response, Han held a press conference at the National Assembly on the 14th and said regarding the Ethics Committee's expulsion decision, "I was expelled based on false manipulation, even though I prevented martial law and protected the party. Together with the party members and the public, I will also prevent this 'martial law.' " He stated that he had no intention of requesting a retrial from the Ethics Committee. However, on the 15th, leader Jang announced at the Supreme Council meeting, "In order to give Han an opportunity to apply for a retrial, the Supreme Council will not make a decision on the Ethics Committee's ruling until the retrial period ends," clarifying that the expulsion will not be finalized until the retrial application deadline on the 23rd.