Lawmakers attending the People Power Party's floor strategy meeting were divided over the issue of taking disciplinary action against Representative Kwon Young-jin.

This floor strategy meeting marked the first attendance of lawmakers who have assumed roles as secretaries for the National Assembly's second-half standing committees.

Representative Cho Eun-hee, the secretary for the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, first brought up the issue of Representative Kwon's disciplinary action.

"Representative Kwon Young-jin's words and actions at the floor leader's office were clearly wrong," Cho said, adding, "However, Representative Kwon also acknowledged his wrongdoing and offered a sincere apology to his fellow lawmakers, party members, and the public."

She went on to argue, "Discipline should not become an end in itself," and "I do not believe it is the true intent of our party to say that no matter how much someone apologizes because they did wrong, we will cast you out, force you to leave, or expel you otherwise."

Representative Yoo Young-ha, the secretary for the Intelligence Committee, subsequently rebutted Cho's remarks.

"There is a threshold of tolerance that can be endured," Yoo pointed out, adding, "If violence is tolerated and glossed over, the exact same incident will repeat itself in the future."

She added, "Physical violence against the floor leader of one's own political party must not be met with leniency," and "When a nest breaks, all the eggs inside are shattered."

As the two lawmakers continued making public remarks regarding the disciplinary action against Representative Kwon during the floor strategy meeting, Floor Leader Jung cautioned them not to speak on topics unrelated to the meeting.

Directly citing the party constitution and rules, Floor Leader Jung stated, "The rules stipulate that the floor strategy meeting is established to discuss major party measures concerning National Assembly activities." He added, "I ask that the floor strategy meeting be operated in accordance with the party constitution going forward."

He further noted, "Politicians can express their political views as much as they want," pointing out, "They can do so freely through social media activities or press conferences."

The People Power Party's Central Ethics Committee announced yesterday (July 27) that it has initiated disciplinary procedures against Representative Kwon.

Representative Kwon reportedly grabbed Floor Leader Jung by the collar and engaged in other acts of violence on July 23 while protesting against standing committee assignments inside the People Power Party's floor leader office.

Floor Leader Jung, the party victim involved, has accepted Representative Kwon's apology and maintains a position hoping for leniency.

(Photo: Yonhap News)