'Han Donghoon Expulsion' People Power Party Erupts in Internal Strife During Over Three-Hour General Assembly (Comprehensive)

Junior Lawmakers: "Conflict Intensified After Expulsion"
Jang Donghyuk: "Let's Resolve It Through Police Investigation"

The People Power Party held a general assembly on the 2nd, four days after expelling former leader Han Donghoon, engaging in heated debates over who should be held responsible for the party's internal strife. Pro-Han Donghoon members and some junior lawmakers pressured the leadership to explain the reasons behind Han's expulsion, while some party leadership members insisted that the leadership under Jang Donghyuk should not be undermined ahead of the June 3 local elections, forming a defensive front.

Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is giving an explanation about current issues at the party meeting held on the 2nd at the National Assembly Budget Committee meeting room. Photo by Yonhap News

The assembly was convened at the request of "Alternative and Future," a group of first- and second-term lawmakers, to the floor leadership on January 30.

Out of 107 People Power Party lawmakers, more than 80 attended, with over 20 requesting to speak, resulting in a heated and wide-ranging debate.

Kwon Youngjin and Kim Yongtae, members of Alternative and Future, strongly demanded, "Conflicts and divisions have intensified since Han's expulsion. Please explain the process that led to his expulsion."

In response, according to chief spokesperson Park Sunghoon, Jang stated during the assembly that "since suspicions have been raised regarding the facts related to the party member bulletin board issue, I will actively cooperate with the police investigation as the party leader."

Jang further said, "We will resolve the party member bulletin board issue through the investigation. If the police investigation reveals that the disciplinary action against Han was unjustified, I will take political responsibility," adding, "The core issue is not simply the posting of inappropriate comments, but the manipulation of party members' opinions."

Regarding criticism that he had defended Han over the party member bulletin board issue when he served as senior supreme council member under Han's leadership, only to later change his stance, Jang explained, according to spokesperson Park, "At that time, all I had heard from Han was a single statement that he had never posted comments under his own name, so that is what I conveyed to the media."

There were also calls to hold the leadership accountable. Pro-Han lawmaker Bae Hyunjin criticized the leadership's "rightward shift," saying, "Public sentiment in the Seoul metropolitan area is different from the leadership's thinking," while Kwon Youngjin reportedly demanded that some party officials appointed under Jang's leadership be sanctioned for verbally attacking lawmakers with differing views.

The issue of a leadership confidence vote was also raised. Three-term lawmaker Lim Ija reportedly said regarding Kim Yongtae's recent proposal for a confidence vote through the media, "Let us hold a vote of all party members. If the Jang Donghyuk leadership is reaffirmed, we should accept it 100 percent and unite the party."

However, during the assembly, there were no explicit calls for the resignation of either Jang or floor leader Song Eon-seok.

The general assembly, which began at 2:43 p.m. that day, ended at around 6:24 p.m., after approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes.