South Korean lawmaker challenges party leader over disciplinary action

A prominent lawmaker within South Korea's ruling People Power Party has directly challenged the party leader to commence disciplinary proceedings against him without delay. Kim Jae-sup, a member of the National Assembly, issued the demand in response to party leader Jang Dong-hyuk's remarks suggesting that disciplinary action was imminent for several lawmakers, including Kim.

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Initiate disciplinary proceedings against me right now.

Kim Jae-sup asserted that he fought on the front lines in a challenging electoral landscape, leading the party to victory in the Seoul mayoral election as the head of the election committee. He declared his willingness to face disciplinary action if this leadership role is considered an act of destabilizing the Jang Dong-hyuk leadership. He also stated his readiness to accept punishment if his calls for a break with President Yoon Suk-yeol are judged as undermining party discipline.

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If the fight I led on the front lines as the head of the election committee to bring victory to the Seoul mayoral election was an act of shaking the Jang Dong-hyuk leadership, I will gladly accept disciplinary action.

Earlier, Jang Dong-hyuk had mentioned in a YouTube broadcast that there were numerous requests for disciplinary action against reform-minded lawmakers, including Kim Jae-sup, Kim Yong-tae, and Woo Jae-joon. Jang characterized calls for his resignation as the persistent demands of a traveling salesman and labeled the actions of a few lawmakers presenting their opinions as the party's overall sentiment as detrimental to the party's interests.

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If you judge that urging a break with Yoon Suk-yeol is an act that harms the party's discipline, I will gladly accept disciplinary action.

Kim concluded by entrusting the judgment of what truly serves the party and conservatism to the party, the citizens, and time itself, stating his anticipation of the party's decision. The internal party conflict highlights divisions over strategy and leadership following recent electoral outcomes.

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There were many requests for disciplinary action, and it is time to provide an answer, whatever the conclusion, for the parts that have been postponed.