Representative Jang Dong-hyeok (left) and former representative Han Dong-hoon [Yonhap News] 

A palpable sense of tension is building within the People Power Party on the 5th as the central party's Ethics Committee prepares to resume operations on the 6th, following Representative Jang Dong-hyeok's plan to discipline members for "anti-party activities."

This follows signs that both Representative Jang’s camp and the anti-Jang faction—including the pro-Han (pro-Han Dong-hoon) group that supported independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon during the June 3 local elections—are bracing for a confrontation as they emerge as the primary targets of these disciplinary measures.

Consequently, even the old pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Suk-yeol) guard within the party is voicing concerns that Representative Jang’s "politics of discipline" will only trigger further chaos.

◇ Ethics Committee to Resume Tomorrow... Pro-Han Faction Tops Disciplinary List

The People Power Party's central Ethics Committee will hold a plenary meeting on the 6th of next month to deliberate on disciplinary petitions filed by party members and others around the time of the June 3 local elections.

The primary targets for potential discipline are pro-Han lawmakers, including Kim Ye-ji, Ahn Sang-hoon, Jin Jong-oh, Jeong Seong-guk, Bae Hyun-jin, Woo Jae-jun, and Park Jeong-hun, who accompanied Representative Han on his itinerary in Daegu last March.

A party leadership official told Yonhap News in a phone call, "Failing to address this would create problems regarding the continuity and discipline of the party," adding, "It will be difficult for the ethics committee members to simply let it pass."

Another official explained that they cannot ignore the demands of the party’s hardline support base, stating, "The weight of the party members' demands for disciplinary action is just as significant as the voices of lawmakers arguing against it."

Possibilities of disciplinary action have also been raised against members of the reformist group "Alternative and Future," who, alongside the pro-Han faction, publicly called for Representative Jang’s resignation, as well as Representative Kim Jae-seop, who served as a co-chairman of the campaign committee for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.

Facing calls for his resignation following the local election defeat, Representative Jang previously launched a counterattack on a YouTube broadcast last month, calling out Reps. Kim Yong-tae, Kim Jae-seop, and Woo Jae-jun by name and labeling them as figures who "attack the leadership."

He also criticized three-term lawmaker Song Seok-jun and two-term lawmaker Lee Seong-kwon for poor local election results in their respective districts.

However, it is understood that the leadership has decided that Reps. Kim Yong-tae, Kim Jae-seop, and Woo Jae-jun—whom Representative Jang mentioned by name—are not currently subject to disciplinary action.

A key official emphasized to Yonhap News, "Representative Jang was merely expressing a principled concern regarding the attitude of those lawmakers who try to project an image of innovation by pointing their guns inward instead of fighting the Democratic Party," adding, "This is entirely separate from disciplinary action, and there is no intent to punish political criticism."

Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik speaking at a floor policy meeting [Yonhap News]

◇ Ethics Committee Expected to Reach Decision by End of Month... Pro-Han Faction Warns of Strong Backlash

Considering previous disciplinary precedents, the Ethics Committee is expected to decide whether to impose sanctions no later than this month.

The Ethics Committee has the authority to impose disciplinary measures such as ▲ expulsion, ▲ recommendations for withdrawal from the party, ▲ suspension of party membership, and ▲ warnings.

Previously, the Ethics Committee elected Gachon University professor Yoon Min-woo as the new Ethics Committee chair via co-option on January 6, and on the 13th of that same month, it decided to expel former representative Han Dong-hoon over the so-called "party bulletin board scandal."

That decision was finalized at the Supreme Council meeting on January 29.

The anti-Jang faction, including the pro-Han group, is expected to react strongly if the Ethics Committee proceeds with actual disciplinary actions.

Representative Han Dong-hoon recently criticized the situation on the 3rd, stating, "While those in the party leadership should be taking responsibility and stepping down, they are pulling out absurd disciplinary measures to dodge the crisis and pull the wool over the public's eyes. It is grotesque."

A pro-Han lawmaker said in a call with Yonhap News, "No lawmakers directly aided Rep. Han’s campaign after the official local election period began on May 21," adding, "Under what grounds would they discipline us? The disciplinary process itself has become a laughingstock."

Representative Lee Seong-kwon, a coordinator for "Alternative and Future," appeared on MBC on the 2nd and criticized the situation, noting, "Representative Jang's fan club 'Mansahyeoktong' has reported some 30 lawmakers to the Ethics Committee. Representative Jang shortened the term of the previous ethics chair and installed the current one; it’s a structure where they both file the complaints and decide the disciplinary actions."

Representative Kim Yong-tae also stated on the 3rd, "If we resort to discipline to solve what should be handled through politics, internal strife within the party will only grow."

Some are already criticizing the committee for potential lack of fairness, questioning whether they will apply the same standards to the old pro-Yoon guard—who previously attempted to replace the party’s presidential candidate with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo during last year's election—or to other party figures based in Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) who gave campaign speeches for independent candidates.

Representative Jang Dong-hyeok and Supreme Council Member Woo Jae-jun saluting the national flag [Yonhap News] 

◇ Old Guard Also Concerned Over Chaos Caused by 'Disciplinary Politics'... Risk of Judicial Intervention Again

As Representative Jang’s "politics of discipline" moves toward reality, Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik and other senior party members are making little effort to hide their discomfort.

Floor Leader Jeong stated on KBS on the 2nd, "We must be cautious from the start of the disciplinary process to the conclusion," adding, "The level of discipline must be one that many people can agree with."

Five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won also told SBS on the 2nd that "it is undesirable to conduct politics through disciplinary actions," and similar positions were echoed by five-term lawmaker Kim Gi-hyeon and four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo.

Furthermore, there is growing concern within the party that if the Ethics Committee imposes measures like expulsion, the courts may intervene again as they have in the past, leading to further confusion.

Previously, the Ethics Committee had suspended pro-Han lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin's party membership for one year for allegedly violating children's human rights by posting a photo of a netizen's family who had left malicious comments, and imposed a heavy disciplinary action of "recommendation to withdraw" on former Supreme Council member Kim Jong-hyuk for insulting the party leadership.

Later, the courts accepted injunctions filed by Rep. Bae and former Supreme Council member Kim to suspend the effect of the disciplinary actions, effectively nullifying them.

Regarding this, a key leadership official emphasized to Yonhap News, "The courts should not send a signal that they are intervening in politics."