People Power Party's Jin Jong-oh vows to fight disciplinary action, calls for public trust

Jin Jong-oh, a member of South Korea's People Power Party, has vehemently protested the party's disciplinary committee's move to begin proceedings against him. The committee's decision stems from Jin's alleged support for an independent candidate during a recent by-election.

Jin took to Facebook to express his strong opposition, arguing that the party requires a restoration of public sentiment over "disciplinary politics" intended for "party monopolization." He declared his firm stance against the committee's decision, stating, "If walking towards the public's desire for conservative reconstruction is a sin, I will gladly accept it, but I will not stand idly by if it is for baseless party monopolization."

He further cautioned against such internal conflicts, asserting, "No power has ever won public sentiment through disciplinary politics, and the public will not give their votes to a party that points its swords inward." Despite his strong words, Jin affirmed his intention to participate in the party's internal procedures, adding, "Nevertheless, I will fully explain the circumstances and intentions during the Ethics Committee process." He concluded by stating that the ultimate evaluation would come from the public and party members, not the committee.

The People Power Party's ethics committee decided to initiate disciplinary action against Jin and two other incumbent lawmakers, Cho Kyeong-tae and Kwon Young-jin, for supporting an independent candidate in the June 3 by-election for the Busan Buk-gu North constituency. Reports indicated that Jin, considered a close associate of the independent candidate, had even secured a residence in Busan to support the campaign, prompting party leader Jang Dong-hyuk to order an investigation that led to the ethics committee referral.