KOR- Disciplining repeated criticism of party leader? Should we change our words depending on the situation?
- Jang Dong-hyeok fails to show what he should have after local elections... "Petty"
- Ethics Committee disciplinary action initiated? It's self-destruction beyond friendly fire
- Ethics Committee met outside party headquarters? That in itself is abnormal
- If an absurd disciplinary ruling comes out, the party will face a new crisis
- Reaction within the party to Jang Dong-hyeok's Olympic Park politics? Everyone deplores it
- Why delay the recount? Concerned about rushing to finish and move on quickly
- President's mortgage controversy: To the public, it sounds like a story from another world
■ Broadcast: SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show (FM 103.5 MHz 7:00 – 9:00 AM)
■ Date: July 23, 2026 (Thursday)
■ Host: Lawyer Kim Tae-hyun
■ Guest: Rep. Song Seok-jun, People Power Party
[Kim Tae-hyun] Now let's turn to the People Power Party. How does the People Power Party view Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's first-instance verdict and the Democratic Party's push to abolish supplementary investigative powers? We will speak with Rep. Song Seok-jun of the People Power Party, who served on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee during the first half of the National Assembly term. Hello, Representative.
[Song Seok-jun] Hello. Glad to be with you.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Representative, yesterday's ruling was extremely perplexing for the People Power Party. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, one of the leading candidates for the next presidential election, was sentenced in the first instance to a fine of 10 million won. Since it is a violation of the Political Funds Act, this means losing his mayoral position if upheld. If finalized, he will not even be able to run for president. How did you view yesterday's verdict?
[Song Seok-jun] It is very perplexing. A sentence that could invalidate his election was handed down in the first instance. However, in other similar cases, the result was an acquittal, or in some cases a two-year prison sentence. As Mayor Oh himself mentioned, issuing a sentence that invalidates an election based solely on one person's unilateral claim and indirect evidence—especially against a vital political resource and asset for both South Korea and our party like the Seoul Mayor—has bewildered many people. I believe this is a situation that is hard to believe.
[Kim Tae-hyun] For the People Power Party, and especially for Mayor Oh Se-hoon himself, it would be best if this is overturned on appeal and in the Supreme Court. The problem is that this is proceeding under the Special Counsel Act, which follows the 6-3-3 rule, meaning it will be finalized all the way through the Supreme Court in six months by next year.
[Song Seok-jun] Yes.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Of course, since it is not a mandatory deadline, the period could be extended. But if things go wrong, a by-election might have to be held next year for the Seoul mayoral election that was barely won. From the People Power Party's perspective, since the party needs to survive, do you think preparations should be made, even behind the scenes?
[Song Seok-jun] Since this is only the first-instance ruling, there are still appellate and Supreme Court rulings to come, and I believe our judiciary is maintaining South Korea's balance. As many people are pointing out flaws in this hard-to-believe verdict, I hope proper rulings will be handed down in the higher courts to resolve the public's concerns.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Understood. Representative, let's talk about the People Power Party Ethics Committee's disciplinary actions. In your own opinion, do you think you, Song Seok-jun, are subject to disciplinary action or not? Yesterday, the disciplinary guidelines stated that simple criticism of the party leader would be overlooked, but systematic, repeated, and persistent criticism would be disciplined. You have made comments calling the party leader petty a few times. I am curious whether that counts as simple criticism and is fine, or if it is systematic and repeated and thus unacceptable. How do you see it?
[Song Seok-jun] It is true that it has been repeated and persistent. Honestly, once I make a judgment on a situation, I cannot just flip-flop back and forth, can I? Although Party Leader Jang Dong-hyeok is someone I personally cherish, his behavior around the last local elections disappointed many citizens and had a negative impact on the local elections. I am telling him to take responsibility for that. Politics is not a position with a guaranteed term like a legally independent agency. A responsible position in a political party gets recognized and given bigger opportunities if it succeeds in major events.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Right.
[Song Seok-jun] If you lose, taking proper responsibility and stepping down cleanly to look for bigger opportunities for yourself, while giving the party a chance to transform and innovate anew—that is the true, clean, and respectable nature of party politics. But at a time when that behavior should be shown, it is not being shown, and instead, this sluggish and petty situation continues.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Representative, do you expect to be disciplined then? Since you just called it petty again.
[Song Seok-jun] I actually find it pitiful that we are even discussing disciplinary action here. In a situation where we should be reflecting and pursuing new change and innovation, using party power to wield the sword of discipline against those who criticize and speak up with new voices, rather than dedicating oneself to change and innovation, is immensely arrogant. It only multiplies the reasons for his resignation and risks trapping himself in his own pitfall. This could go beyond internal firing and become an act of self-destruction against the party. I hope such foolish actions cease immediately.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Ethics Committee discipline is self-destruction beyond internal firing against the party?
[Song Seok-jun] It could become self-destruction. Hasn't such a phenomenon continued since the expulsion of former Leader Han Dong-hoon? After that, disciplinary actions against other lawmakers were overturned in court as baseless, leaving our party embarrassed. Now, at a time when people's livelihoods are burning and our potential governing party, which should save South Korea, is showing such chaos driven by party leadership through internal firing and internal fighting, the public will abandon our party even more, and calls for the party leader to step down quickly will grow louder.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Former Leader Han Dong-hoon came back through an election, and Rep. Bae Hyun-jin and former Supreme Council member Kim Jong-hyuk came back through the courts.
[Song Seok-jun] They came back.
[Kim Tae-hyun] In the end, the Ethics Committee's disciplinary measures all ended up failing.
[Song Seok-jun] That's right.
[Kim Tae-hyun] But Representative, although the Ethics Committee is an independent body, it is a party organ, so meetings should normally be held at the party headquarters, right?
[Song Seok-jun] It should be.
[Kim Tae-hyun] However, according to today's Dong-A Ilbo report, the Ethics Committee held a meeting at a secret location other than the central party headquarters, almost like a military operation. Why do you think this is happening? Is there a lot to hide?
[Song Seok-jun] That in itself is abnormal. Every single behavior shown by our party leadership doesn't look normal. While today is the first time I've heard this statement,
[Kim Tae-hyun] Yes, there was a report this morning.
[Song Seok-jun] If such actions, which could drive our party into crisis, continue to be carried out abnormally, I am worried about the future. If it takes a strange direction, it could push the party into a massive vortex and bring about a new phase of crisis.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Representative, there is something I am curious about that we haven't seen often. Usually, an opposition leader guards the party leader's office in the National Assembly or stays at party headquarters. Or, if they engage in extra-parliamentary rallies, they form a line together with fellow lawmakers, like former President Park Geun-hye did during the Private School Act struggle. But right now, Leader Jang Dong-hyeok is doing it alone at Olympic Park. What is the mainstream reaction among lawmakers regarding the leader practicing solo extra-parliamentary politics?
[Song Seok-jun] Everyone deplores it. We currently have so many pressing issues. In addition to various parliamentary matters, the organization of National Assembly committees is still delayed, and people's livelihoods are burning. After the local elections, what the party leader should be doing is reflecting, leading change and reform, and using this golden time to show that our party is changing in preparation for the general election. Instead, going outside to conduct a solo extra-parliamentary struggle that our lawmakers cannot sympathize with is increasingly being ignored by fellow lawmakers as time goes on.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Regarding that, a recent report mentioned that Rep. Han Ki-ho strongly criticized it in the Telegram group chat for lawmakers. Is this Rep. Han Ki-ho's personal view, or are many other lawmakers sympathizing with it?
[Song Seok-jun] You should assume many lawmakers sympathize. He is not a first-term political novice.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Right, a four-term lawmaker.
[Song Seok-jun] He is someone who speaks with great weight, so seeing this happen is indeed unfortunate.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Despite that, why do you think Leader Jang continues to act alone? Is it a sense of mission that he must resolve the Olympic Park issue and the anger of some young people in their 20s and 30s? Or is he trying to find a breakthrough through this?
[Song Seok-jun] I think both aspects exist. One is Leader Jang's sincerity. For instance, showing a stance that represents the voices of citizens angered by the crumbling democracy in South Korea—specifically the infringement on voting rights—out of a desire to save the nation is certainly something that should be shown when necessary. However, that is not everything.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Yes.
[Song Seok-jun] A party leader has bigger duties—there are many things to do for the public and for the party. Immersing oneself solely in this reflects a narrow and biased form of party leadership.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Representative, you keep saying that Leader Jang must take responsibility and step down for the party to revive, and that holding on is petty. However, looking at the situation, other lawmakers are not moving much, so Leader Jang seems likely to continue. Reports even suggest he might complete his term until next February. Do you have a plan?
[Song Seok-jun] I believe that for the party to win the next general election, it must change, reform, and undergo a complete transformation. A starting point will emerge along the way in one form or another. For example, there must be a lot of agonizing within the party leadership as well.
[Kim Tae-hyun] The Supreme Council members?
[Song Seok-jun] Surrounding circumstances—for instance, while the Democratic Party also faces deep internal strife, once their national convention ends, they will transform into a changed and formidable force. If our party continues in this sluggish and petty state, the outcome of the next general election will be as clear as night and day.
[Kim Tae-hyun] It could become difficult.
[Song Seok-jun] Before that happens, our party must find a motive—a momentum for change and grand innovation.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Understood. Representative, regarding the Olympic Park situation, the ruling and opposition parties agreed to introduce a Special Counsel for the National Election Commission (NEC). Agreement was also reached on how to recommend the special counsel. However, the recount fell through. The Democratic Party says "let me do it right away," while the People Power Party says "what are you talking about? Take it slow." That's the situation.
[Song Seok-jun] Yes.
[Kim Tae-hyun] At first glance, if there was an issue with the election, wouldn't it be better to conduct the recount quickly and reach a conclusion? Why is the People Power Party opposing doing the recount immediately?
[Song Seok-jun] Well, it's hard for me to give a definitive answer here, but I think various concerns are mixed together. For instance, there are still worries about whether the public's suspicions can truly be resolved through this Special Counsel.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Yes.
[Song Seok-jun] Also, there are concerns that they might be trying to quickly wrap everything up with a recount and move past it. Because this issue served as a trigger for emergency martial law, and suspicions regarding the election system and flawed election management have accumulated since past elections. To resolve these, I think there is a reflection of demands to take more time, uncover what needs to be uncovered, and establish a new system.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Understood. Representative, you are not a member of the parliamentary investigation committee regarding the NEC, right?
[Song Seok-jun] No, I am not.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Since you served as a senior official at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, let me ask you about this current issue: the controversy surrounding the President's 1.7 billion won mortgage setting on his Bundang apartment. From the opposition's perspective, what do you see as the biggest problem?
[Song Seok-jun] Well, on the surface, legally there doesn't seem to be a major problem. However, how often do transactions occur where a seller provides such preferential treatment to a buyer through a maximum mortgage setup like that? Some people even raise questions like whether it is a title trust.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Yes.
[Song Seok-jun] But in this case, the President had to execute the transaction to sell within the designated period while preserving the eligibility of the existing union member, leading to the deal. However, from the perspective of ordinary citizens, even if he thinks it was unavoidable and legally sound, this is a highly unusual transaction. Ordinary citizens look at it and think, "All our options are blocked and we can't even make transactions, so what are they doing among themselves?" It feels like a story from another world. The President should be able to empathize with the public's concern and anger over this. If he cannot, real estate policy is likely to fall into continuous chaos.
[Kim Tae-hyun] So you mean the issue is not necessarily the transaction itself, but that the President's actual transaction does not match the policies tightening loans—that's the problem, right?
[Song Seok-jun] Absolutely. The real estate market is in unprecedented chaos. Everything from loan regulations to heavy taxation on real estate, and even talks of targeting single-home owners, has turned the market into a crucible of fear and severe chaos caused by transaction restrictions.
[Kim Tae-hyun] A major real estate public debate is taking place today. What aspects are you keeping an eye on in today's debate?
[Song Seok-jun] Severe public criticism will likely pour in today. I think public dissatisfaction and resentment over various regulations will burst forth like a torrent, and depending on how the government responds, it could face a massive backlash in public sentiment.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Do you believe the President should personally clarify his stance regarding this mortgage issue? Although the Presidential Office has provided its own explanations.
[Song Seok-jun] He probably won't get into specifics.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Really?
[Song Seok-jun] Yes. Doing so would only draw him into a quagmire. Since public anger has already passed the critical threshold, the moment the President argues back and forth about this, it will add fuel to the fire. He will likely avoid it.
[Kim Tae-hyun] Understood. We will conclude today's interview here. That was Rep. Song Seok-jun of the People Power Party. Thank you.
[Song Seok-jun] Thank you.
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※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
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