People Power Party Adds Two to Ethics Committee Amid Internal Dissent

The People Power Party (PPP) has appointed two new members to its Central Ethics Committee, a move that has stirred internal debate. The decision was made during a supreme council meeting on July 30.

However, the appointments were met with dissent from within the party. Supreme Council member Woo Jae-joon publicly stated his opposition, arguing that the party should first investigate allegations of biased operations within the ethics committee. He expressed disagreement with the party's approach of immediately filling vacancies to push forward with committee proceedings.

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We need to investigate what is happening within the ethics committee and whether it is truly operating in a biased manner.

"We need to investigate what is happening within the ethics committee and whether it is truly operating in a biased manner," Woo told reporters outside the meeting room. He also noted that the party leader does not have the authority to conduct such an investigation.

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The appointment of two ethics committee members was approved by the supreme council.

PPP Senior Spokesperson Choi Bo-yoon explained that the committee's membership had decreased to five from seven following the recent resignations of two ethics committee members. She stated that the new appointments were made to address this vacancy, citing that the previous members resigned due to their names being leaked to the press, causing them pressure and burden.

Choi also addressed concerns about the repeated leakage of the ethics committee's member list, noting that a majority of the supreme council members raised strong objections. She added that the conduct of some ethics committee members, which she described as disruptive, was also deemed undesirable. However, Choi clarified that the party constitution and regulations do not grant the party the authority to investigate non-party members who may be serving on the committee.

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The past resignations of two ethics committee members were due to their names being leaked to the media, causing them pressure and burden. Considering their resignations, we appointed two additional members.