Jo Kyung-tae Criticizes Ethics Committee Disciplinary Action: "No Procedural Legitimacy... Severe Disciplinary Measures Needed for Jang"

Jo Kyung-tae Requests Review of His Disciplinary Procedure

"Ethics Committee Has Become a Proxy Committee for Representative Jang"

On July 28, Rep. Kyungtae Cho of the People Power Party criticized the Central Ethics Committee's decision to commence disciplinary procedures against him, stating, "The party's Ethics Committee should initiate severe disciplinary action not against me, Kyungtae Cho, but rather against Representative Donghyuk Jang."

At a press conference held that afternoon at the National Assembly Communication Center, Rep. Cho said, "The leader of the leading conservative opposition party has made accusations of alleged election fraud and disturbed the national order. This clearly tarnishes the honor of the party and severely undermines public trust," arguing that this constitutes a clear act against party interests.

On the 28th, Rep. Kyungtae Cho of the People Power Party held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center regarding the commencement of disciplinary procedures by the Central Ethics Committee of the People Power Party. Rep. Cho urged the party's Ethics Committee to reconsider the disciplinary procedures against him and to initiate severe disciplinary actions against Representative Donghyuk Jang.

At the conference, Rep. Cho called on the Ethics Committee to reconsider the disciplinary procedures against him and to discuss the position of Yoon Minwoo, Chairperson of the Central Ethics Committee. He also demanded the immediate commencement of severe disciplinary procedures against Representative Jang. Furthermore, he stated that he would comply if summoned to testify during the Ethics Committee’s hearing process.

He argued that the disciplinary process against him "lacks procedural legitimacy," pointing out that the committee was reduced in size from seven to five members, that decisions were being made by only three people, and that it had been thrown into disarray as several ethics committee members have recently resigned in succession.

Regarding a recent statement by an ethics committee member suggesting that they attended the committee on behalf of Representative Donghyuk Jang, Rep. Cho remarked, "The Ethics Committee, by abandoning its role as a fair deliberative body and reducing itself to Representative Jang's private disciplinary committee, has admitted its downfall." He also referred to the Ethics Committee as "Representative Jang's avatar committee."

Rep. Cho was referred to the party's Ethics Committee for allegedly violating party discipline by calling, both within and outside the party, to persuade members not to vote for Park Deokhoom, the party's candidate for Vice Speaker of the National Assembly, during the selection process. The Ethics Committee launched disciplinary procedures against him the previous day.

Describing the situation at the time, Rep. Cho explained, "I appealed not only to our party but also to members of the Democratic Party, the Reform Party, and the Progressive Party, conveying the earnest voices of citizens who pleaded not to select someone who opposed the impeachment of the ringleader of a rebellion as Vice Speaker of the National Assembly."

He continued, "As a member of a constitutional body and a six-term lawmaker who has earned public trust, I am obligated to convey the voices of the people," insisting, "This is an entirely commonsense political action." He also questioned, "Is it a crime to appeal for the protection of constitutional order in line with one’s convictions?"

Rep. Cho stated that "the outcome of this disciplinary action will serve as a litmus test of whether the People Power Party is a democratic national party that breaks with rebellious forces, or whether it continues to turn a blind eye to insurrection."

Meanwhile, Rep. Cho commented on fellow lawmakers Jinho Jin and Youngjin Kwon, who were also subject to disciplinary action alongside him, stating, "It is not desirable for the Ethics Committee to be activated for every matter." He also criticized Jumsik Jeong, the floor leader, for having distributed committee seats "unilaterally," insisting, "He is not qualified to serve as floor leader."

The People Power Party leadership stated its intent to monitor the Ethics Committee's disciplinary process. Chief Spokesperson Choongkwon Park said, "If a reasonable result is reached through Ethics Committee procedures within the system, one that meets the expectations of many party members and the public, I believe discord within the party will be smoothly resolved going forward."

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