People Power Party Ethics Committee Sharpens Its Rules Amid "Injunction Nightmare"... Watchful Eye on "Disciplinary Politics"

Guidelines to Enhance Legal Consistency Prepared
Criticism Within Party: "Disciplining Instead of Innovating"

The Central Ethics Committee of the People Power Party has begun formulating guidelines for disciplinary reviews. This move is interpreted as an effort to enhance the legal consistency of its decisions, taking into account previous cases where the Ethics Committee's decisions were suspended due to court injunctions. With the prospect that disciplinary requests received after the June 3 local elections may be formally reviewed, tensions within the party are rising.

On July 22, the Central Ethics Committee of the People Power Party held a general meeting to discuss the establishment of disciplinary criteria and the classification of received agenda items. It is reported that around 60 disciplinary request letters have been submitted to the Ethics Committee since the local elections.

Jeong Jeong-sik, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the general meeting of members to select candidates for the chairpersons of standing committees in the second half of the 22nd National Assembly held at the National Assembly on July 23, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

On that day, the committee reaffirmed the principle that simple criticism of the party leader or the party itself does not constitute grounds for disciplinary action. However, an exception was made for cases where criticism is carried out repeatedly, systematically, or persistently with a particular intention—such cases may qualify as grounds for disciplinary measures.

As a result, a key issue going forward will be where to draw the line between free criticism within the party and actions that warrant disciplinary action. Since it is necessary to comprehensively consider not only the content of the criticism but also its repetitiveness, organizational nature, persistence, and intent, the committee's case-by-case interpretations are expected to become increasingly important.

Additionally, given past precedents where some disciplinary decisions by the Ethics Committee were suspended by court injunctions, legal review of the procedures and the grounds for judgment is emerging as a crucial factor in the current disciplinary review process.

The recent addition of another legal professional to the committee has also prompted differing interpretations. While some view this as a measure to strengthen legal judgment in the disciplinary process, others speculate that it may be a move to increase the influence of pro-leadership factions within the committee.

On July 23, People Power Party lawmaker Song Seokjun said on SBS Radio, "Disciplining critical voices instead of pursuing innovation is a self-destructive act that traps the party," urging the committee to halt the process.

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