PPP Ethics Committee: "Criticism of Party Leader May Be Disciplined If Intentional, Repeated, and Organized"

"Simple Criticism Is Not Subject to Disciplinary Action"

The Central Ethics Committee of the People Power Party has announced that it may take disciplinary action against actions carried out with intent that are repetitive, organized, and continuous, and that seriously hinder the proper operation of the party leader or the party itself.

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th.

The Central Ethics Committee of the People Power Party announced on July 22 that it had reached this conclusion following discussions at a closed plenary session held earlier that morning regarding the establishment of disciplinary standards and classification of agenda items that had been submitted.

The Central Ethics Committee clarified, "In principle, simple criticism of the party leader or the party itself does not constitute grounds for disciplinary action." However, the committee explained, "If it is judged to be an act that is excessively intentional and, through repeated, organized, and continuous means, seriously undermines the normal operation of the party leader or the party, it will be considered an exception."

Dozens of disciplinary cases have been submitted to the Central Ethics Committee before and after the 9th Nationwide Simultaneous Local Elections. It is reported that those referred to the committee include Assemblyman Cho Kyungtae, who made calls on behalf of Deputy Speaker Park Deokheum urging voters not to elect him during the selection of the National Assembly Vice Speaker; pro-Han Donghoon (pro-Han Donghoon) faction lawmakers who supported independent candidate Han Donghoon during the by-election in Busan Buk-gap; and some reform-minded lawmakers within the party who publicly criticized party leader Jang Donghyuk.

The Central Ethics Committee has announced plans to convene its 16th meeting "as soon as possible to continue discussions on the agenda items." There are expectations both inside and outside the party that the Ethics Committee may reach a decision as early as this month.

Meanwhile, Lee Sungkwon, the secretary of "Alternatives and the Future," a reform-minded lawmakers' group within the party, told reporters on the morning of July 22, "It is the opinion of the majority of our lawmakers and party members that the Ethics Committee should not become the starting point for entering a phase of disciplinary action that undermines the party's unity and promotes division and conflict."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.