Kim Jonghyeok, a close ally, recommended to leave the party
Expulsion proposal for Han could be discussed as early as later this week
The so-called "dual special prosecutor" initiative, which the opposition is pushing for to investigate the Unification Church and nomination bribery scandals, is losing momentum. This is because the controversy surrounding the expulsion of former leader Han Donghoon within the People Power Party is drawing attention both inside and outside the party.
Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, and other lawmakers are holding a "National Assembly Tent Sit-in Demanding a Special Prosecutor for the Democratic Party Nomination Bribery - Unification Church Gate" in front of the National Assembly Main Building on the 27th. 2026.1.27 Photo by Kim Hyun-min
On the morning of the 27th, at around 8:30 a.m., the People Power Party began a "Tent Sit-in Demanding a Special Prosecutor for the Unification Church Gate and Democratic Party Nomination Bribery" in front of the National Assembly Main Building. The first participants included floor leader Song Eonseok, chief deputy floor leader Yoo Sangbeom, and lawmakers Kang Daesik and Kang Myeonggu. At the protest site, placards with messages such as "The president who ignores the dual special prosecutor is the main culprit" stood out. In addition, videos of party leader Jang Donghyuk’s hunger strike and a meeting with former President Park Geunhye were shown.
However, these calls for a dual special prosecutor are failing to gain traction. Instead, attention within the party is focused on the controversy over the expulsion of former leader Han Donghoon. The Central Ethics Committee of the People Power Party decided the previous day to recommend "voluntary departure" for former Supreme Council member Kim Jonghyeok, who is considered a close associate of Han Donghoon. A recommendation to voluntarily leave the party is a severe disciplinary action, second only to expulsion, and if the member does not leave within 10 days, the Supreme Council can proceed with expulsion. This is a harsher penalty than the previous two-year suspension of party membership handed down by the Party Affairs Audit Committee.
Some interpret this as a preview of the discussion on the disciplinary action against former leader Han, which is expected as early as later this week. Han Donghoon, via his social media, criticized the Ethics Committee’s decision, saying, "This is abnormal. It must be corrected," and added, "The People Power Party must be a party of liberal democracy."
The main topic at the parliamentary meeting held the previous day was also the issue of Han Donghoon's expulsion. Floor spokesperson Kwak Gyutaek told reporters after the meeting, "There were various opinions, with some saying it is right to expel him as the Ethics Committee decided, and others saying now is not the time for internal conflict." He added, "The floor leader will gather more opinions from within the party and convey them to the Supreme Council."
With the political spotlight on the expulsion of former leader Han, the momentum for opposition party cooperation has also stalled. The Reform Party, which had previously joined forces with the People Power Party on the dual special prosecutor issue, is now taking a wait-and-see approach. Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform Party, appeared on BBS's "Morning Journal with Keum Taeseop" and said, "The dual special prosecutor is a national issue that the opposition can cooperate on, but since the disciplinary matter is likely to be resolved later this week, we plan to wait until then."
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