Ethics Committee’s ‘Rigged Disciplinary Action’ Controversy: Han Dong-hoon Says ‘Come Clean’; Jang Dong-hyeok Says ‘It Was Discipline for Media Manipulation’

[Financial News] Allegations that the People Power Party’s Central Ethics Committee rigged the expulsion of independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon have emerged, and discord in the opposition camp appears to be growing. Han urged party leader Jang Dong-hyeok to “come clean even now and ask party members and the people for forgiveness,” prompting Jang to push back: “If you intend to claim there were procedural problems, you can take legal action.” Han told reporters at the National Assembly Communication Building on the 11th, “An Ethics Committee member who directly took part in expelling me made a public statement of conscience saying they had rigged the disciplinary action and publicly apologized to me, the victim.” He added, “This is bringing to light the fact that Han Dong-hoon’s expulsion through the Ethics Committee was a purge for a particular person’s political gain.” Earlier, Ethics Committee member Hwang Gyeong-seong said the party leadership had called for all committee members to resign and declared, “I will reveal the truth about the rigged disciplinary action.” Hwang also claimed that Jang met Ethics Committee chair Yoon Min-woo on July 8 and set the rigged disciplinary action in motion.
Han said, “I would say that the disciplinary action should be nullified,” and called on Jang, who appears to have been involved in the rigged action behind the scenes, to state his position.
Asked about calls for a party-level investigation into the facts, Han said, “Of course it’s necessary,” adding, “It is only right for the person who issued the order to reveal the truth themselves.”
Some lawmakers aligned with Han who received severe disciplinary measures while Yoon Min-woo was Ethics Committee chair also called for Jang to resign. Lawmaker Seo Beom-soo, who was severely disciplined amid controversy over a gaffe about the “Busan roundhouse kick” case, acknowledged that his remark had been careless but said, “I hope the facts revealed today will remain as a lesson that our party’s Ethics Committee must never again become a sword aimed at political opponents.” Lawmaker Jin Jong-oh also held a press conference calling for Jang to resign immediately.
Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok spoke to reporters immediately after Han’s press conference and pushed back. Jang said, “You called it a rigged disciplinary action, but it was discipline for media manipulation,” adding, “The evidence is still held by investigative authorities and is also stored on the party’s server.”
Jang said, “I met Chair Yoon on July 8 to ask whether Yoon was willing to take on the chairmanship and to hear the chair’s thoughts on various matters. I don’t think there was anything problematic about what we discussed.” He added, “I had never met Yoon before the disciplinary decision.”
Chief spokesperson Park Choong-kwon said, “Hwang’s claim is merely an admission that they failed to properly perform their role as an Ethics Committee member,” adding, “As someone who reversed their decision to resign, their claim cannot be trusted.”
Park said, “The fact that some are rising up all at once based on the claim of a particular committee member who is difficult to trust appears politically motivated,” adding, “If there were procedural problems, the Ethics Committee can be convened again.”

[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter