People Power Party Faces Internal Turmoil in Ethics Committee... Jang Donghyuk's "Disciplinary Politics" Gains Momentum with New Appointments

Additional Ethics Committee Members Appointed, Hearings to Resume Next Week

Jang Donghyuk Holds Authority Over Committee Appointments and Dismissals, Focus on Direction of Disciplinary Actions

The People Power Party is expected to accelerate its disciplinary review of incumbent lawmakers after appointing additional members to the Central Ethics Committee. However, disagreements within the party leadership during the committee’s expansion process, as well as intensifying internal conflicts within the Ethics Committee, are deepening the turmoil surrounding leader Jang Donghyuk’s so-called “disciplinary politics.”

According to political circles on July 31, the Supreme Council of the People Power Party appointed two more members to the Ethics Committee during a closed-door meeting the previous day. Following a series of resignations that reduced its membership to just five, the committee has now returned to a seven-member structure. The Ethics Committee is scheduled to convene again next week.

On July 28, with only three out of five sitting members in attendance, the Ethics Committee approved the initiation of disciplinary procedures against lawmakers Cho Kyungtae, Kwon Youngjin, and Jin Jongoh. Although the meeting met the quorum required for a vote, the decision made by the minimum number of members has sparked controversy over its fairness.

Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on July 30, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Disagreements among the party leadership emerged even during the process of filling the committee vacancies. Supreme Council member Woo Jaejoon opposed the appointments, insisting that there should first be an investigation into whether the Ethics Committee is operating in a biased manner. Yang Hyangja, another Supreme Council member, abstained from voting, citing the need for further review. It has been reported that during the closed meeting, there were heated exchanges as leader Jang pressed ahead with a vote.

Internal conflicts within the Ethics Committee are also intensifying. The committee’s chair, Yoon Minwoo, warned the previous day that he would request the dismissal of any member who repeatedly violates the obligation to maintain confidentiality regarding internal discussions. This puts him in direct confrontation with Vice Chair Woo Jonghwan—who has publicly criticized Yoon’s unilateral management style—and others. In a call with The Asia Business Daily, Woo stated, “Publicly criticizing flaws in the decision-making process of the Ethics Committee, rather than the content of individual reviews, does not constitute a breach of confidentiality.”

The controversy over the committee’s independence is expected to continue. As leader Jang holds the authority to appoint and dismiss members of the Ethics Committee and has been emphasizing the party’s disciplinary policy, some anticipate that the latest appointments will strengthen internal discipline. Speaking on YTN Radio, Woo pointed out, “Due to procedural issues, there is criticism that the Ethics Committee could be seen not as an objective decision-making body but as a political tool.”

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