Ruling Party's "Disciplinary Guidelines" Backfire... Some Ethics Committee Members Protest: "Apologize"

A new disciplinary guideline from South Korea's ruling People Power Party (PPP) has sparked internal dissent, with some members of the party's ethics committee protesting its introduction. The guideline suggests that "repeated and organized criticism" of the party leader could be subject to disciplinary action. This move has reportedly led to internal friction, with several ethics committee members expressing their disagreement. One committee member has even resigned, citing concerns over their identity being exposed. The ethics committee had previously stated that "simple criticism" of the party leader or the party itself would not be grounds for discipline, but clarified that "excessively intentional, repeated, organized, and continuous" criticism would be an exception. The party is currently reviewing dozens of disciplinary requests against members, including those associated with former interim leader Han Dong-hoon. The controversy highlights internal tensions within the PPP as it navigates political challenges.