Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon and Representative Bae Hyun-jin greet supporters during a visit to Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 22nd. [Yonhap News] 

War clouds are gathering within the People Power Party (PPP) as the party's Central Ethics Committee shows signs of resuming disciplinary actions against figures deemed anti-Jang Dong-hyuk.

The committee, which had been dormant during the local election period, has convened a general meeting for the 6th of next month.

Lawmakers from non-leadership factions, including those aligned with Han Dong-hoon and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, are prepared to launch a counteroffensive, stating they will not sit idly by if an era of unjust disciplinary measures becomes a reality.

According to PPP sources on the 30th, the primary targets currently being discussed for disciplinary action are lawmakers aligned with Han Dong-hoon.

Previously, about a dozen local chapter chairpersons outside the National Assembly, including special policy advisor Lee Sang-gyu, submitted a request to the Ethics Committee to discipline lawmakers Kim Ye-ji, Ahn Sang-hoon, Jin Jong-oh, Jeong Seong-guk, Bae Hyun-jin, Woo Jae-jun, and Park Jeong-hun, as well as former lawmaker Kim Kyung-jin, for accompanying then-independent Representative Han Dong-hoon on his Daegu schedule in March.

In May, Representative Han Ji-ah, also seen as pro-Han, visited the site where Han Dong-hoon registered as a preliminary candidate for Busan Buk-gap, prompting leader Jang Dong-hyuk to publicly state that he would "take necessary measures."

Since then, it is reported that as many as several hundred similar requests for disciplinary action targeting the pro-Han faction have been submitted to the Ethics Committee.

Furthermore, in a YouTube broadcast on the 26th, leader Jang specifically named Representative Kim Jae-seop, who served as co-chair of Mayor Oh’s election committee, along with Kim Yong-tae and Woo Jae-jun of the reformist group 'Alternatives and Future,' as individuals who "attack the leadership."

The previous day, media cameras captured party Organization Deputy Secretary-General Kang Myung-gu discussing potential targets for discipline with a party official via Telegram; four-term lawmaker Han Ki-ho, who has previously made favorable remarks about Han Dong-hoon, was also shown in the footage.

In response, pro-Han Representative Park Jeong-hun appeared on MBC Radio that day, saying, "Those who should be disciplined themselves are trying to discipline others," adding, "Disciplinary actions against Rep. Bae Hyun-jin and Supreme Council member Kim Jong-hyuk have already been invalidated by the courts. Do they think the court will adopt a different logic if they try again?"

"If the current leadership makes decisions that undermine inner-party democracy through the abuse of power, it only gives leader Jang more reasons to resign," he warned, adding, "Instead, these will become dramatic examples illustrating the lack of democracy in our party."

Representative Jin Jong-oh also stated in a CBS radio interview, "I am not sure how the Ethics Committee intends to proceed, but my actions were not contrary to the will of the people," adding, "We need to plant the seeds for rebuilding conservatism, and I must ask if the leadership is truly seeing public sentiment clearly."

Youth Supreme Council member Woo Jae-jun also made it clear that as a member of the leadership, he would attempt to block the disciplinary actions if they move forward in earnest.

Appearing on a Channel A YouTube program, he said, "This is a time when we should be reflecting on whether the disciplinary action against Rep. Han was correct. If we turn around and discipline those who helped him, it will cause a backlash," noting that "it could divide the party over unnecessary disciplinary controversy."

He explained, "I am always prepared to resign, but it may also be necessary to perform an appropriate role within the leadership, which is no less important than resigning. If a campaign of disciplinary actions truly begins, it will be my role to push back against it."

While it is highly likely that disciplinary motions will be approved by the Supreme Council—given that the current leadership holds a majority—Woo's opposition is interpreted as an attempt to at least raise a voice of restraint.

Once the Ethics Committee passes a disciplinary measure, penalties such as recommendations to leave the party, suspension of party membership, or warnings are finalized after a ten-day period for requesting a retrial, without the need for Supreme Council approval. However, the most severe penalty, expulsion, must be confirmed by the Supreme Council.

Youth Supreme Council member Woo Jae-jun makes remarks calling for the resignation of leader Jang Dong-hyuk during a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 29th. Leader Jang Dong-hyuk listens to the left. [Yonhap News] 

The non-leadership faction is also watching for potential disciplinary actions against figures like far-right YouTuber Ko Sung-kook, who is considered an ally of Jang Dong-hyuk.

In February, the Seoul City Party Ethics Committee decided to "recommend withdrawal from the party" for Ko, who had argued that a photograph of former President Chun Doo-hwan should be posted at the party headquarters.

As Ko, the subject of the discipline, filed an objection, the matter was transferred to the Central Party Ethics Committee according to party regulations. The non-leadership faction argues that, based on the "first-in, first-out" principle, disciplinary discussions regarding Ko should take place before those involving the pro-Han faction.

Although the "Ko Sung-kook disciplinary motion" has been pending since leader Jang stated on March 12, "I request the Ethics Committee to refrain from further discussion on all disciplinary cases currently filed until the local elections are over," there is speculation that its handling, in conjunction with the moves against the pro-Han faction, could serve as a litmus test for the party's future direction.

Meanwhile, the People Power Party announced to the press corps on the same day, "The contents of the text message on Deputy Secretary-General Kang Myung-gu's mobile phone, which was revealed yesterday, were merely one of several opinions received in the process of asking for feedback from various people," and clarified, "This does not represent the official position of the party and is unrelated to the stance of the lawmaker in question."