Woo Jong-hwan, the vice chair of the People Power Party's Central Ethics Committee, raised concerns on August 3 about allegations that Chair Yoon Min-woo leaked disciplinary materials. He urged Yoon to respond to accusations of violating confidentiality obligations.
In a statement issued alongside Ethics Committee member Hwang Kyung-sung, Woo described the alleged leak as a serious breach of confidentiality and a significant violation of the committee's internal rules. They stated, "The incident of leaking disciplinary materials is the most serious violation of confidentiality obligations and the most severe breach of the Ethics Committee's internal regulations."
They further claimed, "We have received serious reports and evidence that Yoon has shared the list of individuals subject to discipline, the details of the disciplinary actions, decisions, and press releases with outsiders since the first half of this year, when discussions about the disciplinary actions of key figures such as Han Dong-hoon, Bae Hyun-jin, and Kim Jong-hyuk were ongoing. If this is true, Yoon has violated his confidentiality obligations and should resign before facing disciplinary action from the committee."
They added, "The disciplinary actions announced by Yoon, who is aligned with the loyal faction of the leadership, do not align with the independent function of the Ethics Committee and will only provoke backlash from those subject to discipline, plunging the party into severe internal strife. The disciplinary actions led by a loyalist chair and committee members will not save the leadership but will inflict serious damage instead."
To ensure the normalization and transparency of the Ethics Committee, they proposed principles including the establishment of transparent and objective disciplinary standards, public disclosure of the list of committee members and their significant backgrounds, and the publication of attendance records during meetings.
They emphasized, "As the vice chair and members of the Ethics Committee, we have a duty to protect the party's sustainability and democratic principles. We will not yield to any attempts to use the committee as a political tool or for personal advancement and will fulfill our responsibilities to the end."
Meanwhile, Woo appeared on KBS Radio's 'Current Affairs' program the same day, where he criticized Yoon's unilateral notification of meetings and the issues surrounding the disciplinary standards.
He stated, "I pointed out procedural flaws in the decision-making and drafting process of the Ethics Committee. Is this a violation of confidentiality? I did not disclose any secrets." He also criticized the phrase proposed by the committee as a disciplinary standard, which states, 'Disciplinary action may be taken if actions are deemed excessively intentional, repetitive, organized, and continuously undermine the normal operation of the party or its leader,' saying, "Undermining normal operations refers to the party, not the party leader. The term 'excessively intentional' is also an abstract term, not a legal one."
Additionally, he expressed concern about Yoon's unilateral notification of meeting schedules, stating, "When I requested information on how many attended the meeting when I was absent, I received no response. I worry that such incidents will continue in the future."
Regarding future Ethics Committee meetings, he did not specify exact dates but mentioned, "This meeting will provide an opportunity for those who have received disciplinary initiation decisions to explain themselves. Notifications will be sent out as early as today or as late as tomorrow."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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