A heated debate unfolded during the People Power Party's legislative countermeasure meeting regarding the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against lawmaker Kwon Young-jin by the party's ethics committee. This public clash occurred following the appointment of committee secretaries for the second half of the year. Jung Jeom-sik, the floor leader, expressed his displeasure, stating, "Please speak in accordance with the party constitution during the meeting."
During the meeting on July 28, lawmaker Jo Eun-hee acknowledged that Kwon's behavior in the floor leader's office was clearly inappropriate but insisted that "discipline should not be the goal."
He further stated, "It is not the true intention of our party to say, 'You will be expelled if you do not apologize for your mistakes' or 'We will expel you if you do not leave voluntarily.' There should be accountability for mistakes, but we must also provide opportunities for sincere reflection and apology. We need to create a new path that everyone can walk together."
In response, lawmaker Yoo Young-ha emphasized, "If authority collapses, the organization collapses. History shows that internal strife has caused more damage than external threats. If violence is tolerated and swept under the rug, similar incidents will recur in the future."
He added, "It is absolutely unacceptable for a member of a party representing the people to commit violence against their own party's floor leader. When the nest is broken, all the eggs inside are destroyed. We must hold him accountable decisively."
Earlier, the Supreme Council had suggested that Kwon voluntarily resign after he was involved in a confrontation with floor leader Jung on July 24 over dissatisfaction with committee assignments, during which he reportedly grabbed Jung by the collar. There was a consensus that if he did not comply, a disciplinary action equivalent to expulsion would be unavoidable. The ethics committee initiated disciplinary proceedings against Kwon on the same day.
As the secretaries exchanged public remarks on internal party issues during the legislative countermeasure meeting, floor leader Jung intervened, stating, "Article 67 of the party constitution pertains to the legislative countermeasure committee. The first clause stipulates that the committee is established to discuss and coordinate the party's major measures regarding National Assembly activities." He urged, "Political views should be expressed through social media or press conferences, and remarks in public meetings should be made in accordance with the party constitution."
During the meeting on July 28, lawmaker Jo Eun-hee acknowledged that Kwon's behavior in the floor leader's office was clearly inappropriate but insisted that "discipline should not be the goal."
He further stated, "It is not the true intention of our party to say, 'You will be expelled if you do not apologize for your mistakes' or 'We will expel you if you do not leave voluntarily.' There should be accountability for mistakes, but we must also provide opportunities for sincere reflection and apology. We need to create a new path that everyone can walk together."
In response, lawmaker Yoo Young-ha emphasized, "If authority collapses, the organization collapses. History shows that internal strife has caused more damage than external threats. If violence is tolerated and swept under the rug, similar incidents will recur in the future."
He added, "It is absolutely unacceptable for a member of a party representing the people to commit violence against their own party's floor leader. When the nest is broken, all the eggs inside are destroyed. We must hold him accountable decisively."
Earlier, the Supreme Council had suggested that Kwon voluntarily resign after he was involved in a confrontation with floor leader Jung on July 24 over dissatisfaction with committee assignments, during which he reportedly grabbed Jung by the collar. There was a consensus that if he did not comply, a disciplinary action equivalent to expulsion would be unavoidable. The ethics committee initiated disciplinary proceedings against Kwon on the same day.
As the secretaries exchanged public remarks on internal party issues during the legislative countermeasure meeting, floor leader Jung intervened, stating, "Article 67 of the party constitution pertains to the legislative countermeasure committee. The first clause stipulates that the committee is established to discuss and coordinate the party's major measures regarding National Assembly activities." He urged, "Political views should be expressed through social media or press conferences, and remarks in public meetings should be made in accordance with the party constitution."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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