[Anchor]

The People Power Party's Central Ethics Committee has initiated disciplinary procedures against Reps. Seo Bum-soo and Jin Jong-oh, who made inappropriate jokes regarding the Busan roundhouse kick assault case. With all four lawmakers currently facing disciplinary action being members of the reformist faction who have demanded the resignation of leader Jang Dong-hyeok, outlooks suggest this could ignite further internal conflict within the party.

Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the details.

[Reporter]

People Power Party Representative Seo Bum-soo faced heavy criticism after making a joke during a National Assembly seminar attended by the victim of the Busan roundhouse kick case on the 4th.

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

Following Rep. 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 procedures against both individuals.

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

With Rep. Seo Bum-soo newly added alongside Reps. Cho Kyung-tae, Kwon Young-jin, and Jin Jong-oh, who are already undergoing disciplinary reviews, the total number of lawmakers facing discipline has increased to four.

Coincidentally, all of them belong to the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction and groups like Alternatives and Future, which have called for the resignation of leader Jang Dong-hyeok.

The party leadership, including leader Jang, appears to be launching a counterattack, insisting that high-intensity disciplinary actions must be taken.

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

While some lawmakers in the reformist faction argue that "the ethics committee has already lost its authority because its disciplinary effect was suspended by a court injunction during past attempts to discipline figures like Rep. Bae Hyun-jin," others express frustration, saying, "there are no appropriate ways to block the disciplinary actions."

The People Power Party's ethics committee is currently facing severe internal friction, with two members—including Vice Chairman Woo Jong-hwan, who criticized Chairman Yoon Min-woo's operational methods—stepping down. However, with strong voices from the party leadership emphasizing the need to tighten party discipline through these disciplinary actions, some predict the situation will ultimately lead to heavy disciplinary measures.

(Video Reporting: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan)