DP Criticizes PPP Over Bae Hyunjin Disciplinary Action: "Is the 'Yoon Again' Faction in Retreat?"

"Purging Pro-Impeachment Faction While Putting Martial Law Apologists Out Front"
"Crackdown on Internal Diversity...A Double Standard"

The Democratic Party of Korea strongly criticized the People Power Party, asking, "Is the retreat of the 'Yoon Again' faction and the purge of those who supported impeachment really innovation?" The party argued that, ahead of the local elections, the PPP is putting forward figures who glorified martial law, while at the same time pressuring party members who supported the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol in the past through disciplinary measures.

On February 14, Democratic Party spokesperson Park Kyungmi said in a written briefing, "Ahead of the local elections, the People Power Party is putting on full display figures who glorify martial law and is engaging in irrational behavior by purging those who supported impeachment."

Park Kyungmi, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea. Yonhap News Agency

Spokesperson Park particularly took aim at Lee Junghyun, chair of the nomination management committee and former leader of the Saenuri Party, saying, "He is the one who praised the December 3 Martial Law as 'enlightenment' and likened forces that trampled on the Constitution to Admiral Yi Sun-sin and righteous army volunteers." She went on to argue, "They have handed the power to decide nominations to an extreme pro-Yoon Suk Yeol loyalist faction that even denied the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling."

In contrast, she pointed out that disciplinary actions are continuing against figures who supported impeachment in the past. Citing the one-year suspension of party membership imposed on Assemblywoman Bae Hyunjin, Park said, "It seems obvious that behind this unusually heavy punishment lies a political scheme to weed out both those close to Han Donghoon and those who supported impeachment."

She also criticized party leader Jang Donghyuk, saying, "Praise for martial law makes you a recruitment target, while internal criticism makes you a target for expulsion," and added, "How will the public view this double standard, in which anti-constitutional figures are placed in key positions while internal diversity is crushed in the name of 'ethics'?"

Spokesperson Park stated, "The People Power Party must put an end to the politics of fear aimed at weeding out those who supported impeachment," adding, "At the end of a purge that runs counter to public sentiment, the judgment of the people awaits."