The Ethics Committee of the People Power Party held a closed meeting on September 30 and reduced the party membership suspension of Kwon Young-jin from 18 months to one year due to the earlier controversy involving him grabbing the collar of floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik. As a result, Kwon is now eligible to apply for candidacy in the upcoming general election.
During the meeting held at the party's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, the committee reviewed Kwon's appeal for a retrial. Kwon had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the allocation of standing committee positions in July and confronted floor leader Jeong, leading to a complaint being filed against him. He received a severe disciplinary action of 18 months suspension from party membership.
If the 18-month suspension had been upheld, it would have made it virtually impossible for Kwon to run as a candidate for the People Power Party in the 2028 general election. Kwon requested a review of the procedural legitimacy of the disciplinary process and the appropriateness of the severity of the punishment.
After the meeting, the Ethics Committee issued a statement saying, "We accepted Kwon's explanation and appeal, and decided to cancel the previous 18-month suspension, ruling it as a one-year suspension instead."
With the suspension now reduced to one year, Kwon is expected to apply for candidacy in the next general election. He stated on his Facebook page, "I accept the Ethics Committee's retrial result. I sincerely apologize for causing concern to the public and my fellow party members due to my shortcomings. I will fulfill my duties as a member of the National Assembly during the upcoming regular session and national audit."
Meanwhile, the Ethics Committee also canceled the suspension of Im Jong-deuk, who had been previously indicted, following a ruling that dismissed the charges against him. Additionally, regarding Yoon Han-hong, who was indicted by the Special Investigation Team, the committee recognized that there were substantial reasons to consider the prosecution as political oppression and decided to suspend his disciplinary action.
During the meeting held at the party's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, the committee reviewed Kwon's appeal for a retrial. Kwon had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the allocation of standing committee positions in July and confronted floor leader Jeong, leading to a complaint being filed against him. He received a severe disciplinary action of 18 months suspension from party membership.
If the 18-month suspension had been upheld, it would have made it virtually impossible for Kwon to run as a candidate for the People Power Party in the 2028 general election. Kwon requested a review of the procedural legitimacy of the disciplinary process and the appropriateness of the severity of the punishment.
After the meeting, the Ethics Committee issued a statement saying, "We accepted Kwon's explanation and appeal, and decided to cancel the previous 18-month suspension, ruling it as a one-year suspension instead."
With the suspension now reduced to one year, Kwon is expected to apply for candidacy in the next general election. He stated on his Facebook page, "I accept the Ethics Committee's retrial result. I sincerely apologize for causing concern to the public and my fellow party members due to my shortcomings. I will fulfill my duties as a member of the National Assembly during the upcoming regular session and national audit."
Meanwhile, the Ethics Committee also canceled the suspension of Im Jong-deuk, who had been previously indicted, following a ruling that dismissed the charges against him. Additionally, regarding Yoon Han-hong, who was indicted by the Special Investigation Team, the committee recognized that there were substantial reasons to consider the prosecution as political oppression and decided to suspend his disciplinary action.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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