Former representative Han Dong-hoon criticized the People Power Party’s Ethics Committee’s decision to suggest Kim Jong-hyuk, a former top committee member, leave the party, calling it “totalitarianism akin to Nazism” on the 27th.
Han stated on Facebook that the previous day’s Ethics Committee decision was not democratic but rather totalitarian, akin to the North Korean leader theory or Nazism, and pseudo-democracy. He criticized the decision letter for overtly stating that a party member who criticizes the representative should be expelled, calling it anti-democratic and anti-intellectual. The decision letter stated that the party representative is an institution representing a party formed by the ‘sum of individual free wills’ of party members, not merely a natural individual or entity.
Han is implementing strategies to pressure the People Power Party’s leadership. He announced a talk concert on the supporter communication platform ‘HANCUT’ scheduled for the 8th of next month. On the 28th, he will attend a documentary film premiere focusing on former President Kim Young-sam. This will be his first public appearance since the Ethics Committee’s expulsion decision and his press conference on the 14th.
Former top committee member Kim Jong-hyuk, speaking on YTN Radio on the 27th, said that the recommendation for expulsion was an explicit declaration to suppress democracy within the party. A group of junior and second-term lawmakers, “Alternative and Future,” also criticized, saying that while the ruling side is doing additive politics, they exclude even those within their ranks. Twenty-one regional committee chairs of the People Power Party’s Seoul branch released a statement urging the top leadership to revoke Han’s disciplinary actions and find a political solution.
On the other hand, voices within Jang Dong-hyuk’s circle are growing that Han and Kim’s expulsions are inevitable. Top committee member Kim Jae-won expressed skepticism within the party about continuing with Han and Kim and said a conclusion should be reached soon.
Amid the increased likelihood that Han’s expulsion will be decided at the Supreme Council meeting on the 29th, Jang Dong-hyuk will return to party duties on the 28th. He is returning to work six days after halting his hunger strike and undergoing recovery treatment on the 22nd. A leadership official reported that the sentiment is solidifying toward Han’s expulsion. Jang delivered his first message after ending his hunger strike on the 27th, writing on Facebook about a “25% tariff bomb” hitting the people’s wallets and urging President Lee Jae-myung to call President Trump directly, stating that the presidency is a position of responsibility and diplomacy is about skill, not show.