Internal strife grows in People Power Party over disciplinary politics

Jo Gyeong-tae, the longest-serving lawmaker in the People Power Party, has announced his intention to file a complaint with the party's ethics committee against party leader Jang Dong-hyuk. Jo, a six-term legislator, stated that Jang is deepening the party's struggles by refusing to accept responsibility for the recent local election defeats.

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The party leader is refusing to take responsibility for the 6·3 local election defeat and is instead clinging to power, driving the party into a deeper mire.

The complaint will cite Jang's refusal to distance himself from former President Yoon Suk-yeol during the local election campaign and a controversial trip to the United States shortly before the elections. Jo plans to submit the disciplinary request to the ethics committee on July 8. This move comes as Jo himself faces disciplinary action from the ethics committee for allegedly pressuring Park Deok-heum, who was nominated as a candidate for the National Assembly deputy speaker, to withdraw from the race.

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I will submit a request for disciplinary action against Leader Jang to the party's ethics committee on the 8th.

Jang has intensified his efforts to quell calls for his resignation by initiating disciplinary proceedings against party members. He proposed amending party regulations to permanently ban members engaging in severe acts of disloyalty. The party's ethics committee recently held its first meeting since the local elections, reviewing approximately 70 cases. Among those identified as primary targets for discipline are lawmakers aligned with Han Dong-hoon and members of the young faction group 'Alternative and Future,' which has been demanding Jang's resignation.

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If actions that go against the sentiment of the majority of the public continue, we will not stand idly by.

Internal dissent is growing, with the 'Alternative and Future' group publicly stating they will not tolerate actions that go against public sentiment. Concerns are also rising among senior party leadership about the potential for further internal strife. Floor leader Jeong Jin-seok emphasized that any disciplinary actions must be justifiable to party members, lawmakers, and the public. Na Kyung-won also warned that aggressive disciplinary measures could lead to new party divisions.

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Whether to initiate disciplinary proceedings, the targets, and the severity of the punishment must be at a level that can be accepted by many party members, our lawmakers, and the public.