Disciplinary Action Initiated Against People Power Party Lawmakers Over "Roundhouse Kick" Remarks Amid Concerns Over Targeting Reformists

[Anchor]

The People Power Party's Central Ethics Committee has initiated disciplinary procedures against lawmakers Seo Bum-seong and Jin Jong-oh for making inappropriate jokes regarding the "Busan roundhouse kick incident." With all four lawmakers now facing disciplinary action having previously demanded the resignation of Party Leader Jang Dong-hyeok, speculations are rising that this could spark further internal conflict within the party.

Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the details.


[Reporter]

People Power Party Lawmaker Seo Bum-soo faced severe backlash after making a joke at a National Assembly debate attended by the victim of the "Busan roundhouse kick incident" on the 4th.

[Seo Bum-soo / People Power Party Lawmaker: We should do a roundhouse kick match.]

Following Lawmaker Jin Jong-oh's response to Seo's joke by saying he "uses his hands better than his feet," the People Power Party's Central Ethics Committee decided to launch disciplinary proceedings against both individuals.

This decision came just one day after the party leadership gathered at a Supreme Council meeting the day before yesterday (the 6th) and agreed that stern measures were necessary.

With Lawmaker Seo Bum-soo newly added alongside Lawmakers Joo Kyung-ho, Kwon Young-jin, and Jin Jong-oh—whose disciplinary reviews are already underway—the total number of lawmakers facing disciplinary action has increased to four.

Coincidentally, all of them belong to factions demanding the resignation of Party Leader Jang Dong-hyeok, such as the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction and "Alternatives and Future."

The party leadership, including Leader Jang, appears to be launching a counteroffensive, insisting that high-intensity disciplinary measures must be imposed.

[Jang Dong-hyeok / People Power Party Leader (The day before yesterday): These kinds of things are dragging down the approval ratings of the People Power Party.]

Among the reformist lawmakers, while some hold the view that "the ethics committee has already lost its authority because the court accepted injunctions suspending the disciplinary effects during past attempts to discipline lawmakers like Bae Hyun-jin," others express frustration, admitting that "there are no appropriate ways to block the disciplinary actions."

The People Power Party's ethics committee is currently experiencing severe internal conflict, marked by the resignation of two members, including Vice Chairman Woo Jong-hwan, who had criticized the operational methods of Chairman Yoon Min-woo. However, with strong voices from the party leadership insisting that party discipline must be restored through these disciplinary measures, some predict that the proceedings will ultimately lead to heavy penalties.

(Video Reporter: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.