(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporters Lee Jeong-hyun, Noh Seon-woong, and Jo Daun = Factional conflict within the People Power Party was reignited when the Ethics Committee member of the People Power Party claimed on the 11th that the disciplinary action against independent lawmaker Dong-hoon Han in January was rigged.
When members of Congressman Han's close circle (pro-Han Dong-hoon) collectively demanded that the disciplinary action be annulled and that Representative Jang apologize, Representative Jang responded to Representative Han by saying, "Sue it legally," and said to sympathizers within the party, "It is inappropriate to shake up the party."
CEO Jang recently conveyed his intention to replace the existing Ethics Institute. Accordingly, it was discovered on the 11th that five out of six ethics committee members, including Chairman Yoon Min-woo, announced their intention to resign.
The remaining ethics committee member, Hwang Gyeong-seong, issued a press release on the same day and said about CEO Jang's policy to reorganize the ethics committee, saying, "The reason they are trying to replace the ethics committee now is because they are afraid that the full extent of 'manipulated disciplinary action' will be revealed after they succeeded in maintaining the party representative system through disciplinary action by the ethics committee, so they are trying to eliminate the potential for trouble."
He continued, "Only recently did I learn the full story of the ethics committee's manipulative disciplinary action, which proceeded from the expulsion of Rep. Han Dong-hoon in January to the disciplinary action against Rep. Jin Jong-oh in August, and I also secured evidence. I will reveal the true nature of the tainted manipulative disciplinary action to correct the wrongful disposition and ensure that there are no unfair victims."
Citing ethics committee member Hwang's claim of 'manipulated disciplinary action', lawmakers and close circles called for the immediate annulment of the disciplinary action and CEO Jang's resignation.
Representative Han met with reporters at the National Assembly on this day and said, "The reality has been revealed that Han Dong-hoon's expulsion was a purge for the political interests of a specific person," and "CEO Jang, who knows the truth better than anyone else, should report this fact right now and ask for forgiveness from party members and the public."
He continued, "It is not a third party's assessment that the disciplinary process against me was manipulated, but the person who directly made the decision said it," and "It is the same situation as prosecutor Park Sang-yong suddenly coming out and saying that he received Han Dong-hoon's order and manipulated it to indict Lee Jae-myeong."
He emphasized, "This is a problem that Representative Jang must take responsibility for. That responsibility will include all responsibility," and added, "He will have to take responsibility for scaring people through the Ethics Committee, customizing the results he wanted, and ruining the party and conservatives through that."
Regarding the issue of his own reinstatement, Rep. Han said, "Unification is necessary to win. Many people know that Han Dong-hoon's return will be a way to defeat the Democratic Party," and asked, "Isn't this the current situation in which some politicians are forcibly blocking this to promote their personal interests?"
Prior to this, Rep. Jin Jong-oh, a close friend, held a press conference at the National Assembly and said to Representative Jang, "Resign from the position of representative. Disclose related records and answer the suspicions."
Rep. Seo Beom-soo, who was also disciplined, said on Facebook, "If the disciplinary action was imposed based on contaminated procedures and unfair standards, it is the duty of the party members and the people to reap the effects of the party itself."
4-term lawmaker Kim Tae-ho said on Facebook, "CEO Jang's involvement cannot be determined based on (the ethics committee member's) claims alone, but the legitimacy of the existing disciplinary action cannot be taken for granted without any verification." He added, "The suspicions raised against a lawmaker are a reason to block discussions on reinstatement, and the suspicions raised against him cannot be a reason to avoid verification."
He also said, “As the basis for the disciplinary action has been shaken, we must reconsider our position of continuing to block discussions on reinstatement due to the disciplinary action,” and added, “In order to protect the party’s principles, the representative himself must also stand in front of those principles.”
Pro-friendly lawmakers, including Park Jeong-hoon, Jeong Seong-guk, and Han Ji-ah, also posted posts on Facebook, urging the government to "reveal the full story of manipulative disciplinary action and hold those involved accountable."
In response, Representative Jang met with reporters at the National Assembly and said, "I was informed that there were no problems or disagreements during the disciplinary process," and responded, "If you are going to make such a claim, you can take legal action. If the court says there is a procedural problem, you can open the ethics committee again, guarantee the right to defense, and go through the disciplinary process."
Regarding ethics committee member Hwang's claim that CEO Jang had lunch with the ethics committee chairperson last July, he said, "We never met before the disciplinary decision was made. Just claiming at a dinner afterwards as if there was a problem with the disciplinary process is itself a fabrication."
At the same time, he criticized, "It is difficult to say anything about an independent lawmaker directly coming forward and mentioning his own problem. However, it is very inappropriate for a lawmaker belonging to our party to shake up the party by speaking out together."
Prior to this, Chief Spokesperson Park Chung-kwon also told reporters, “It appears to be a very political intention for some to rise up all at once based on the unreliable allegations of ethics committee member Hwang.”
Regarding the confirmation of the ethics committee members' intention to resign, Senior Spokesperson Park refuted, "We confirmed the intention after receiving the opinion of the working-level staff that it would be better to form the Audit Committee and the Ethics Committee to coincide with their terms, and we are not urging them to resign."
