South Korean Party Leader Demands Permanent Ban for 'Betrayers' Amidst Internal Strife

Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of South Korea's People Power Party, has called for a revision of party regulations to permanently prohibit members who commit "serious acts of betrayal" from rejoining the party. This strong stance comes as the party's Central Ethics Committee commences its first full meeting since the June 3 local elections, initiating a review of disciplinary requests against several members.

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For those who have committed serious acts of betrayal, we must revise the party constitution and bylaws to permanently prohibit their return to the party.

The committee's review includes members perceived to be aligned with former interim leader Han Dong-hoon and others who have openly criticized Jang. The timing of Jang's remarks, just before the ethics committee meeting, has led to interpretations that they are aimed at members within the party, including those who allegedly colluded with the opposition Democratic Party in local council leadership elections, defying central party directives.

Party spokesperson Park Sung-hoon attempted to clarify Jang's comments, stating they were intended to establish central party control over disciplinary matters and uphold party discipline, particularly in response to local incidents. He emphasized that the remarks were not directed at specific National Assembly members. However, the internal discord persists, with one pro-Han lawmaker suggesting that the disciplinary actions target not only Han's allies but also Jang's faction. Another lawmaker aligned with Han expressed skepticism, viewing the disciplinary proceedings as a "laughingstock" and a "medal" in the current political climate.

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Disciplinary politics is destructive politics.

The party is experiencing deepening internal conflict. Some members, like Choi Hyeong-doo, have described the focus on disciplinary politics as "destructive," while others, such as Lee Jong-bae, believe it will only foster confrontation. Conversely, Lee Jin-suk argues that failing to address disciplinary issues will lead to a disregard for party principles. The ethics committee is reportedly prioritizing procedural fairness to avoid reversals of disciplinary decisions, a situation that has occurred in past cases.

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The disciplinary committee is targeting not only the pro-Han faction but also the Jang faction.