People Power Party Faces Backlash Over 'Political Purge' Disciplinary Actions

Internal dissent is growing within the People Power Party following severe disciplinary actions against members accused of supporting an independent candidate, with senior lawmakers urging reconsideration and sanctioned members denouncing the move as a "political purge."

Several party members, including Kwon Young-jin and Jin Jong-oh, received suspensions of their party rights for periods ranging from one to two and a half years. These suspensions effectively prevent them from running in the next general election under the People Power Party banner. Kwon decried the disciplinary measures, comparing them to "how dictatorships create political purges" and stating, "This is to politically eliminate opposing forces and silence them."

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What is the difference between creating a political purge under past dictatorships and the current disciplinary situation? It is to politically eliminate opposing forces and silence them. Isn't this saying 'If you dare, you won't get nominated next time'?

Jin Jong-oh, who held a press conference at the National Assembly, refuted the ethics committee's conclusion that he supported an independent candidate, Han Dong-hoon. "Disclose the specific actions for which the disciplinary decision was made. If you cannot disclose it, then it is not an ethics committee but merely a tool for political purge," Jin asserted.

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Disclose the specific actions for which the disciplinary decision was made. If you cannot disclose it, then it is not an ethics committee but merely a tool for political purge.

Senior party members have expressed concern that the harsh penalties could deepen internal divisions. Five-term lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun urged the leadership to "reconsider the severe disciplinary actions within a reasonable scope," emphasizing that "what we need is not exclusion but harmony, not 강경함 (toughness) but 포용 (inclusiveness)." Similarly, five-term lawmaker Kwon Young-se suggested that while disciplinary action is symbolically necessary, the current approach is excessive and should be adjusted by the supreme council.

Four-term lawmaker Kim Tae-ho wrote on Facebook that the party should prioritize "integration, not purge, public trust, not loyalty competition, and the politics of a public party, not a private one." He added, "Severe disciplinary actions might help protect party power, but whether they will make the People Power Party stronger is an entirely different question."

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What we need is not exclusion but harmony, not toughness but inclusiveness.