Jang Dong-hyuk, interim leader of the People Power Party, attends a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on the 8th, alongside Supreme Council members Kim Min-soo (left) and Yang Hyang-ja. [Photo = Yonhap News]
The issue of defamatory posts on the People Power Party's online member forum, which surfaced in November 2024 and has yet to be resolved, is finally approaching its conclusion. On December 30th last year, the party's disciplinary committee, which had been investigating the case, announced its findings and referred the matter to the party's Central Ethics Committee with a recommendation for severe disciplinary action: a two-year suspension of party membership.

In its announcement at the time, the disciplinary committee stated, "Posting defamatory content on the bulletin board constitutes a violation of the duty to maintain dignity and is considered misconduct, contravening the party constitution, rules, and ethical code," and urged for strict disciplinary action from the Ethics Committee. This was not merely a handover of factual findings but an official request for disciplinary review. Consequently, the newly established Ethics Committee, led by Yoon Min-woo, took over the case and began its disciplinary proceedings.

Han Exhibits World-Champion Level Shamelessness Even in the Face of Irrefutable Evidence

The reason this case has remained unresolved and embroiled in various controversies is that Han Dong-hoon and his faction raised issues concerning the disciplinary committee's investigative findings and the composition of the Ethics Committee tasked with rendering a judgment.

Despite the disciplinary committee's findings, supported by irrefutable evidence, Han Dong-hoon and his close associates are still engrossed in plotting their escape. Initially, they questioned the disciplinary committee's investigation results, and then they raised concerns about the composition of the Ethics Committee and Yoon Min-woo, a professor at Gachon University, who was elected as the committee chair through mutual election among its members.

The issues raised by Han Dong-hoon's faction regarding Chairman Yoon actually serve as a testament to his credibility as a figure whom the conservative right can trust. Han's faction has effectively reassured party members who were scrutinizing the appointment of the Ethics Committee chair and questioning whether the committee would deliver a fair judgment, as well as supporters who had lost faith in the People Power Party's leadership following Leader Jang Dong-hyuk's 'apology' press conference on the 7th.

Chairman Yoon is Trustworthy… Guaranteed by the Han Dong-hoon Faction

Chairman Yoon is regarded in political and media circles as a figure with a strong and clear "hardline right-wing" stance. The issues raised by Han Dong-hoon's faction concerning Chairman Yoon are as follows:

△ He expressed views on social media (SNS), such as characterizing the December 3rd martial law as a "resolution to eradicate pro-North Korean forces" or stating that "the military must fulfill its role."

△ In addition to his academic work, he has consistently voiced his conservative stance through SNS and conservative YouTube channels, discussing "election fraud" and labeling the Sewol Ferry and Itaewon crowd crush tragedies as "political agitation."

△ He is a figure supported by pro-Yoon factions and hardline elements within the party, and he has criticized centrist party members and the young reformist group as "traitors," "left-wing infiltrators," and "fake conservatives."

Chairman Yoon holds doctorates in criminal law and international politics and is currently a full professor in the Department of Police Administration at Gachon University. He has previously served as a special advisor to the National Intelligence Service, a consultant to the Defense Counter-Intelligence Command, and a policy advisory member to the Presidential Security Service. Notably, he is a researcher recognized for his work analyzing organized comment manipulation on online platforms, particularly the signs of influence operations from Chinese account networks, and is known for valuing evidence-based judgment.

The appointment of Chairman Yoon, approved at the Supreme Council meeting on the 8th, reflects the intention of Leader Jang Dong-hyuk and the party leadership to decisively confront internal conflicts and solidify their grip on party power by cleanly resolving the protracted controversy over the party member forum, with the help of an expert in investigations like election manipulation.

Presenting a Clear Future Party Line for the Conservative Right

The day before, on the 7th, Leader Jang Dong-hyuk's 'apology' press conference had ignited anger and a sense of betrayal among the People Power Party's supporters. Amidst this, at the Supreme Council meeting on the 8th, the party leadership appointed two Ethics Committee members to fill the vacancies left by the resignation of three out of the initially appointed seven members, as well as appointing Chairman Yoon Min-woo.

The forceful appointment of Chairman Yoon can be seen as an effort by Leader Jang and the People Power Party leadership to clearly signal the future direction of the party by appointing a hardline conservative figure who can be trusted by the right-wing supporters.

Given that the Ethics Committee's first task is the disciplinary action against former leader Han Dong-hoon regarding the 'defamatory posts on the party member forum,' concerns are widespread among Han's faction and the party's young reformists that Chairman Yoon's biased perspective will be used as a tool for 'political purges.' Meanwhile, party members and conservative supporters who have backed Leader Jang's leadership are also watching the People Power Party leadership's actions with a mixture of anticipation and doubt.

By Park Hye-soo, Reporter