Jang Dong-hyuk Calls for Unity Amid Absence of Faction Members Hit With Heavy Discipline

[Financial News, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do = Reporter Jiwon Song]Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, called for unity within the party at a workshop on the 27th ahead of the regular National Assembly session. However, the message of solidarity rang hollow as three of the four lawmakers from the non-faction camp who recently received heavy disciplinary action skipped the event.
A total of 11 lawmakers were absent from the People Power Party lawmakers’ workshop held on the 27th in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, citing reasons such as sick leave and overseas business trips. The list of absentees also included lawmakers Kwon Young-jin, Seo Beom-su and Jin Jong-oh, who were recently handed heavy disciplinary measures by the party's Central Ethics Committee. Among the four disciplined lawmakers, only Cho Kyoung-tae attended the workshop that day.
On the 20th, the party's ethics committee imposed a 2 years and 6 months suspension of party membership rights on Cho, 2 years on Jin, 1 year and 6 months on Kwon, and 10 months on Seo. All four are classified as non-faction lawmakers critical of Jang's leadership. Debate over the appropriateness of the punishments continues both inside and outside the party. In particular, if the sanctions against the three lawmakers other than Seo are finalized as they are, they would find it difficult to run under the People Power Party banner in the 2028 general election.
Against this backdrop, Jang used the workshop to reinforce his resolve to confront the ruling camp, citing the Lee Jae-myung administration's economic and security policies as well as attempts to amend the Constitution to allow presidential re-election. He also urged lawmakers to thoroughly scrutinize the government's shortcomings through interpellation sessions and the Parliamentary Inspection of the Administration during the upcoming regular National Assembly session.
“The road ahead will be long and difficult, but I believe we can overcome it if we stand together and fight as one,” Jang said. “I hope this workshop becomes a meaningful occasion for us to gather our strength and hearts. Let’s fight together.”
Former President Park Geun-hye also attended the workshop as a special lecturer and called for unity within the party, lending support to Jang's message of solidarity. 
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