The leadership of the People Power Party appears to be initiating a fast-paced process to finalize the expulsion of former leader Han Dong-hoon. Jang Dong-hyuk, who has been receiving hospital treatment after an eight-day hunger strike, is set to return to party duties on the 28th despite hospital staff’s dissuasion. With the party’s Central Ethics Committee recommending the resignation of former Supreme Councillor Kim Jong-hyuk on the 26th, there’s a possibility that Han’s expulsion could be swiftly finalized during the Supreme Council meeting on the 29th. Han has fiercely criticized the leadership, using strong terms such as “Nazism” and “North Korean totalitarianism.” Within and outside the party, there’s growing concern about potential internal strife if the expulsion is confirmed.
● Jang returns to party duties on the 28th… Han’s expulsion could be finalized on the 29th
A party official stated on the 27th, “They gave Han a chance to appeal the decision, but he hasn’t applied for a retrial, and from the leadership’s perspective, there’s no reason to wait any longer. It seems Han is essentially waiting for his expulsion to be confirmed.” Supreme Councillor Kim Jae-won echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to conclude the matter quickly.
Jang’s return to party duties appears to be driven by the need to resolve Han’s expulsion issue in the upcoming Supreme Council meeting. The recent ethics committee’s recommendation for Kim suggests that Han’s expulsion is also imminent. The party’s move towards a rapid resolution seems influenced by the approaching local elections on June 3rd, with the aim to quickly pivot to election mode. The strong conservative base, which is a key support for Jang, has been vocal about wanting Han expelled, with polls indicating similar sentiments among the party’s supporters. A spokesperson for Jang noted that resolving Han’s issue swiftly is necessary to consolidate support and prepare for the local elections.
● Han criticizes ethics committee’s decision as “pseudo-democracy like North Korea
Han responded vigorously, condemning the ethics committee’s and leadership’s decisions. He described the decision as reminiscent of “North Korean totalitarianism” and “Nazism,” arguing that it represented a “totalitarian” and “pseudo-democratic” approach, while criticizing the idea that a party leader should be expelled for being criticized by their members. Han plans to attend the premiere of a documentary about former President Kim Young-sam on the 29th.
The internal conflicts within the party were evident during a general assembly meeting on the 26th. When some members advocated for finalizing Han’s expulsion, pro-Han faction member Go Dong-jin made dismissive remarks while leaving the meeting, which led to a stern warning from Floor Leader Song Eon-seok.
Calls for both parties to avoid a breakdown and seek political compromise are growing. Members of the reformist “Alternative and Future” group gathered to discuss their strategy. Representative Lee Seong-kwon urged Jang to seek a political solution for unity and called on Han to demonstrate efforts toward reconciliation and a political solution to the public and party members. In a statement, 21 party chapter heads from Seoul emphasized that rigid response without integration will only expedite disaster and urged both sides to take a step back to find an exit.