Former Supreme Council Member Kim Jong-hyeok of the Pro-Han Faction, interviewed after attending the People Power Party's Ethics Committee [Seoul=Yonhap News]

The Central Ethics Committee of the People Power Party decided on January 26th to recommend the resignation of former Supreme Council Member Kim Jong-hyeok, who belongs to the Pro-Han (Pro-Han Dong-hoon) faction, citing remarks that insulted party leadership and members in media interviews.

The Ethics Committee distributed a decision document to the press corps on the same day. It is known that the disciplinary action was also notified to former council member Kim.

This is a more severe disciplinary action than the two-year suspension of party membership previously imposed on former council member Kim by the party's disciplinary review committee. A recommendation to resign is the second most severe disciplinary measure, after expulsion.

According to the party's constitution and regulations, if a person subjected to a recommendation to resign does not submit a resignation application within ten days from the notification date, they will be expelled through a resolution by the supreme council.

In its decision document, the Ethics Committee explained, "The statements made by the investigated party in media appearances, such as 'delusion virus,' 'absurd and delusional,' and 'not even a handful,' regarding party members, violate the grounds for disciplinary action under the Ethics Committee regulations and the provision on maintaining dignity in the code of ethics."

It further stated, "Remarks towards Representative Jang Dong-hyuk such as 'sold his soul' and 'this person is playing games,' as well as 'fascistic' statements comparing the party to an extreme system, are also similar," adding, "When deliberating disciplinary actions for remarks made on broadcasts or YouTube, former and current supreme council members, etc., bear a greater responsibility proportionate to the weight of their position, duties, and responsibilities."

Specifically, regarding 'remarks criticizing the party leader,' it pointed out, "The party leader is an entity representing the political party formed by the 'sum of the free will of individual party members,' not a mere natural person, but a party entity. Statements that excessively incite hatred towards the party's leadership, fellow members, and the party exceed the threshold of legitimate criticism."

Furthermore, it stated, "The investigated party can be seen as pursuing personal gain through self-image enhancement at the cost of harming the party's interests by slandering their own party, leadership, and colleagues. If the investigated party fully wishes to exercise 'freedom of expression' and 'freedom of conscience,' they can do so by resigning and making comments or critiques as a private citizen."

The Ethics Committee cited "low possibility of remorse, very high possibility of recurrence, and the active dissemination of fabricated false facts through media appearances in alliance with former leader Han Dong-hoon and others, including the disclosure of the ethics committee members' list" as reasons for escalating the disciplinary measure.

Immediately after the Ethics Committee's decision, former council member Kim appeared on JTBC and stated, "This is something that cannot happen in a democratic party. I cannot understand how such an unconstitutional decision can be made to 'gag' the party's free speech channels. Representative Jang must take political responsibility. We will also take legal action, including provisional injunctions."

Former leader Han Dong-hoon wrote on Facebook, "An illegal martial law is underway in the People Power Party. We must hold accountable those who have discarded the minimum democratic order that a political party must uphold. We must protect true conservatism from pseudo-conservatism. I will lead the way."