Supreme Council Approves Expulsion
Pro-Han Faction Vows to "Fight to the End"
Han Donghoon, former leader of the People Power Party, was expelled from the party on January 29. As Han is expected to express his views at a press conference, the internal strife within the People Power Party is likely to intensify.
On the morning of the same day, during a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, the People Power Party approved the Central Ethics Committee’s decision to expel Han in connection with allegations that his family manipulated public opinion on the party’s online bulletin board. This decision came just one day after Jang Donghyeok, leader of the People Power Party, returned to party affairs.
Nine Supreme Council members attended the meeting. Among them, seven reportedly expressed support for Han’s expulsion. Woo Jaejun, a Supreme Council member known as a close ally of Han, was reportedly the only one to explicitly oppose the decision. After leaving the meeting, Woo told reporters, “This is ultimately retaliation for supporting impeachment.” Kim Jonghyuk, a former Supreme Council member who was also disciplined with a ‘recommendation to leave the party’ alongside Han, wrote on social media, “I will fight to the end against the forces that destroyed the conservative camp-Yoon Sukyeol and his wife, Jang Donghyeok and their followers, and the pseudo-religious group.”
Han Donghoon is expected to announce his position at a press conference later in the afternoon. The previous day, after watching a biographical film about former President Kim Youngsam, Han said, “Just as former President Kim once said, ‘Even if you wring a chicken’s neck, dawn will still come,’ I will continue to stand with the people with an unyielding spirit.” He may also file for a court injunction to suspend the effectiveness of his expulsion. Park Junghoon, a People Power Party lawmaker, said on SBS Radio that the matter “will be carefully considered.”
Han’s camp plans to rally support by holding a large-scale rally on January 31 and a talk concert on February 8. Running as an independent or through other means in the National Assembly by-elections scheduled for June 3 also remains an option for Han. However, the possibility of a mass defection by Han’s faction appears low. A member of Han’s faction commented, “With the local elections approaching, defeatism is so widespread within the party that even candidates are not gathering. I do not think the current leadership will last long,” leaving the door open for future developments.
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