Kang Min-gu, deputy head of the Democratic Party's Ethics Inspection Committee, has been dismissed.

The Democratic Party announced through a press release today (September 1) that "Representative Kim Min-seok ordered the immediate dismissal of Deputy Ethics Inspection Committee Head Kang Min-gu."

The party did not disclose the specific reason for the dismissal.

However, the decision is believed to be related to a media outlet's camera capturing a Telegram message sent by Deputy Head Kang to Supreme Council Member Park Sun-won, in which Kang suggested that "an associate of former Representative Chung Cheong-rae is trying to interfere with appointments in the Ethics Inspection Committee."

Earlier today, a news outlet published a photo capturing the Telegram messages exchanged between Supreme Council Member Park and Deputy Head Kang.

Following the report, the Democratic Party announced Representative Kim's directive to dismiss Deputy Head Kang.

According to the report, Deputy Head Kang wrote in the message, "It seems the Chung Cheong-rae faction is moving to target (Ethics Inspection Committee Chair) Representative Kim Gi-pyo," adding, "I haven't received word from the party headquarters to come to work. Please speak to the Secretary-General about this. I think we need to go in quickly and take control."

(Photo: Yonhap News)