People Power Party Ethics Committee Faces Paralysis Amid Internal Strife

The People Power Party's central ethics committee is experiencing internal turmoil, with resignations and disputes disrupting its operations. This internal strife is making it difficult to even achieve a quorum, a necessary step for initiating disciplinary proceedings against party members.

One ethics committee member recently resigned, stating that the public disclosure of their name created significant pressure, making it impossible to continue serving. This departure reduces the committee's active members from seven to six, further complicating its ability to function.

Adding to the internal friction, some ethics committee members have reportedly protested a statement released after a closed-door meeting. The statement mentioned that disciplinary action could be taken against "acts that are excessively intentional, repetitive, organized, and continuously and seriously undermine the normal operation of the party leader or the party." These members argued that the statement was not approved through the official decision-making process.

Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk had previously indicated a crackdown on internal dissent following criticism after the June 3 local elections. He stated, "The party is not in a normal state," and suggested disciplinary measures. Currently, the ethics committee is said to have received around 60 disciplinary requests, primarily targeting lawmakers associated with the Lee Jun-seok faction.

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The party is not in a normal state.