Tensions Escalate Over 'Han Dong-hoon's Return to the Party'... Jang Dong-hyeok Meets Ahn Cheol-soo

[Financial News] Factional divisions within the People Power Party are intensifying amid allegations that the expulsion penalty imposed on lawmaker Han Dong-hoon by the party's Ethics Committee was fabricated. Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok met with lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo and stressed party unity, while the pro-Han (pro-Han Dong-hoon) faction pressed the leadership to conduct an independent investigation. The dispute is spreading, with even senior lawmakers joining the fray.
According to political circles on the 13th, Jang held a private meeting that day with Ahn, a four-term senior lawmaker, at the National Assembly Members' Office Building for about 30 minutes. The meeting, arranged at Jang's suggestion, reportedly covered current party issues and the party's future direction.
Jang reportedly thanked Ahn for “providing steady leadership and fulfilling your role as a senior lawmaker.” Ahn reportedly responded, “A party is an organization where people moving in the same direction come together and fight.”
The previous day, Ahn had taken aim at Han and the pro-Han faction in a social media post, saying, “What is this if not an attempt to drag the entire conservative right and all People Power Party members down to drown in the ‘river of return to the party’?” He added, “I wish they would just form a new party.” Some in political circles interpret the meeting as a move by Jang to secure allies within the party.
The pro-Han faction, meanwhile, called for an investigation into the disciplinary process conducted by the Ethics Committee. Five-term senior lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun said in a social media post that day, “In response to the ethics committee member’s revelation of ‘fabricated disciplinary action,’ the party must form an independent fact-finding committee.”
Yoon said, “This is a serious matter that puts the trust of the entire party at stake, given that a sitting ethics committee member who directly participated in the disciplinary decision has raised the issue.” He called for an investigative body that includes outside experts and figures who transcend party factions.
Lawmaker Ahn Sang-hoon also called for a party-level investigation on KBS radio, saying, “The ethics committee member has made a declaration of conscience.” On MBC radio, lawmaker Park Jeong-hoon said, “It has all come to light that the grounds for discipline were fabricated and the Ethics Committee's independence was undermined,” and even raised the possibility of legal accountability.
Ethics Committee member Hwang Gyeong-seong, a central figure in the controversy, refused the previous day to comply with a request to attend a party Supreme Council meeting. Hwang then announced plans to release, as early as next week, materials supporting indications that Jang had communicated with the Ethics Committee. The dispute over the disciplinary process is expected to continue, depending on whether the materials are released and what they contain.
[email protected] Kim Gyeong-min Reporter