Severe Backlash Follows Heavy Penalties on Non-Leadership Figures; Resistance Mounts Against Local Party Chapter Shake-Up

[Anchor]

A fierce backlash is underway within the People Power Party following the decision to impose heavy disciplinary action against four non-leadership lawmakers. A majority of lawmakers have also rebelled against party leader Jang Dong-hyeok's push to replace local party chapter chairpersons.

Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the details.

[Reporter]

Following the party ethics committee's announcement yesterday evening (August 20) of heavy disciplinary measures against lawmakers Cho Kyeong-tae, Jin Jong-oh, Kwon Young-jin, and Suh Bum-soo, complaints poured in from within the People Power Party criticizing the punishments as excessive.

The penalized lawmakers lashed out at the party ethics committee, calling them "faithful hounds of the Jang Dong-hyeok leadership faction" and "instruments of political purge," while Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won, belonging to the leadership faction, also criticized the severity of the disciplinary action.

[Kim Jae-won / Supreme Council Member, People Power Party (SBS Radio 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show'): "There is a significant problem. Unless there is a judgment that they can no longer be together within the conservative camp, excessive disciplinary action is undesirable..."]

Even veteran lawmakers from the old-mainstream pro-Yoon Sang-yeok faction pointed out, "Concerns are rising that this marks the beginning of disciplinary politics aimed at eliminating political rivals," and warned, "Trying to establish discipline through the sword will inevitably result in building a house on sand."

Earlier this year, disciplinary actions against pro-Han Dong-hoon lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin and former Supreme Council member Kim Jong-hyuk backfired on the Jang Dong-hyeok leadership after courts accepted requests for injunctions to suspend their effectiveness. However, those targeted by the current disciplinary measures have not yet clearly stated their countermeasures, such as whether they will request a retrial or file for an injunction.

Internal party backlash against Leader Jang's demand for veteran lawmakers to not run in the general election is also continuing.

Five-term lawmaker Kwon Young-se stated, "It is more appropriate for Leader Jang to step down," while a three-term lawmaker fiercely attacked him, saying, "Leader Jang is deluded into thinking he holds nomination power."

Regarding the sweeping resignation of local party chapter heads and their re-election through party member votes—the so-called "party chapter shake-up" pushed by Leader Jang's camp—a majority of lawmakers, including floor leader Chung Jeom-sik, gathered to express their opposition during today's general meeting of lawmakers. Four-term lawmaker Kim Tae-ho reportedly lashed out directly at Leader Jang, stating, "At a time when we should be fighting against the ruling party, you are only creating internal division," and demanded that he "decide his future course."

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