Jang Dong-hyeok Wields 'Disciplinary Sword' Again: Targeting Pro-Han Faction Following Han Dong-hoon's 'Triumphant Return'

The People Power Party's Central Ethics Committee is reportedly set to begin deliberations early next week on disciplinary motions against approximately 10 lawmakers.

Previously, People Power Party Leader Jang Dong-hyeok hinted at disciplinary action, citing acts detrimental to the party during the local election process.

[Voice] Jang Dong-hyeok / People Power Party Leader (June 26, Maeil Shinmun 'Lee Dong-jae's News Cabinet'): It is time to provide answers regarding the disciplinary requests. I believe it is time to reach a conclusion, whatever that may be.

The party's ethics committee is expected to hold a plenary meeting as early as July 6 to deliberate on the disciplinary motions received.

The meeting was reportedly convened by Ethics Committee Chairman Yoon Min-woo.

A source within the People Power Party leadership explained, "This is a move to resume the deliberation of agenda items that were suspended during the local election phase."

However, there is speculation within the party that the move is intended to discipline lawmakers who supported independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon during the by-election for the Buk-gu Gap district in Busan.

Non-mainstream lawmakers who have publicly called for Leader Jang's resignation may also be included in the disciplinary review.

A People Power Party official stated, "There are seven lawmakers mentioned in the disciplinary requests submitted last March alone, and there are quite a few additional requests filed by party members," adding, "Since we have to review disciplinary requests involving dozens of people, the deliberation process will likely take a considerable amount of time."

The pro-Han faction, expected to be the target of these disciplinary measures, immediately pushed back.

Representative Park Jeong-hun directly criticized the move in a radio interview, saying, "Those who should be disciplined are the ones disciplining others," and added, "It only gives more reasons for Leader Jang to resign."

Pro-Han faction lawmaker Jin Jong-oh also remarked, "I want to ask if the leadership is truly seeing the public sentiment correctly."

Youth Supreme Council member Woo Jae-jun stated, "The disciplinary controversy could divide the party."

Concerns are also emerging within the party that if disciplinary actions against incumbent lawmakers are issued, it will cause significant unrest among their colleagues.

Some observers also suggest that the disciplinary card may prove ineffective, citing the case where Leader Jang previously disciplined pro-Han faction lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin and former Supreme Council member Kim Jong-hyuk, only for the court to accept their injunctions to suspend the effectiveness of the disciplinary actions.

Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Lee Da-in | Graphics by Lee Jeong-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.