Jang Dong-hyuk's 'disciplinary politics' deepens party infighting, leading to a public clash at the supreme council

[Financial News] Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, has signaled a "season 2 of disciplinary politics," pushing the party's internal strife into what now looks like open conflict. At the supreme council meeting on the 29th, members engaged in a public war of words over Jang's future, and Jang rejected calls to step down while ordering the resumption of disciplinary procedures against the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction. He added, however, that the move was not aimed at specific lawmakers such as Kim Yong-tae, Kim Jae-seop, or Woo Jae-jun.
At the meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Woo Jae-jun, a non-factional supreme council member, and Kim Min-soo, a pro-leadership member, traded sharp remarks and told each other to "resign." Woo first said, "If party members start looking like enemies, it is time for the leader to step down," adding that Jang should "come down for the sake of becoming one team." Senior lawmakers, including members of the reform-minded group Alternative and Future, had also urged Jang to resign, but he refused to accept the demand. The backlash was especially strong because Jang recently mentioned the names of lawmakers Kim Yong-tae, Kim Jae-seop, and Woo Jae-jun in a media interview and hinted at possible disciplinary action.
As pro-leadership supreme council members pushed back, the meeting turned into a battleground. Supreme council member Cho Kwang-han said, "Self-serving thoughts, judgments, and expressions only lower a politician's dignity and erode trust," while Kim Min-soo retorted, "Then Woo should resign." In the closed-door session that followed, Jang reportedly said, "No matter what decision the parliamentary caucus makes, and no matter what anyone says at the supreme council, I will not resign," adding, "If there is anyone among the supreme council members who should resign, do so here and now."
Jang is also said to have shown his intention to restart disciplinary proceedings against those responsible. Chief spokesperson Park Sung-hoon said, "As the leader of a public party, he expressed his determination to restore discipline in the party in accordance with the principles and procedures set out in the party constitution and rules." This is being interpreted as a move to review disciplinary requests against pro-Han Dong-hoon lawmakers who supported Han Dong-hoon, the former candidate for Busan Buk-gu-gap constituency and now an independent lawmaker, during the June 3 election process. As a result, the party's internal rift over Jang's "disciplinary politics" is expected to deepen further.
He also clarified that the move was not aimed directly at any specific lawmaker. Park said, "Disciplinary action can only be taken when there is a specific violation of the party constitution and rules. Simply attacking the party leader does not make someone subject to discipline," adding, "It is not true that we are naming specific lawmakers and trying to make them targets for discipline."
The party's Central Ethics Committee is expected to be activated soon under Jang's direction. Many People Power Party officials view support for an independent lawmaker running against the party's own candidate in a district as a clear act of disloyalty. Accordingly, if the so-called "Yun Min-woo Ethics Committee," which previously handed down severe disciplinary action against lawmaker Han and Bae Hyun-jin, is reactivated, observers say harsh punishment for pro-Han Dong-hoon lawmakers would be unavoidable.
[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter