Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon. Yonhap News

The People Power Party's Party Affairs Audit Committee will launch an investigation into the 'Party Member Bulletin Board Incident,' which involves allegations related to the family of former leader Han Dong-hoon.

The Party Affairs Audit Committee announced on the 28th in a press release, "We have decided to initiate a formal investigation into the controversy surrounding the party member bulletin board that occurred around November 5, 2024, and all subsequent measures."

The so-called 'Party Bulletin Board Incident' refers to allegations that the family of former leader Han was involved in a smear article targeting the former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, which was posted on the People Power Party's member bulletin board in November of last year.

Previously, Chairman Jang Dong-hyuk had stated after taking office that he would clarify the facts regarding the party bulletin board issue.

A source within the party leadership stated, "The Party Affairs Audit Committee is an independent body, so we have not received any related information. Chairman Jang has expressed his intention to grasp the reality of this issue since taking office."

A sense of bewilderment is palpable within the "pro-Han" faction.

In a phone call with Yonhap News, a lawmaker from the pro-Han faction said, "It seems Chairman Jang is trying to shift the focus to the party bulletin board issue as he is being cornered. I don't think anything will come out of the investigation."

Another lawmaker criticized, "Why is the investigation being launched at this particular time? It's nothing but internal infighting."

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that the Party Affairs Audit Committee initiated disciplinary proceedings against former Supreme Council member Kim Jong-hyuk, who is from the pro-Han faction, on the 26th.

The Party Affairs Committee cited reasons such as Kim's remarks and actions that ran counter to party policy, including inciting internal division in media interviews, and his discriminatory statements that labeled certain religious groups, such as Shincheonji, as cults.

Yonhap News