Bareunmiraedang's 'Self-Resignation Controversy' Continues... Election Commission Avoids Decision

With Minshengdang's Launch and Other Issues
Ahn Cheol-soo Faction Unable to Join People’s Party
May Be Caught in ‘Dual Party Membership Controversy’

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Former Bareunmirae Party leader Sohn Hak-kyu requested an official interpretation from the Central Election Management Committee (CEMC) regarding the self-expulsion of proportional representation members, but the controversy has not ended. This is because the CEMC effectively avoided giving a direct answer. Within the former Bareunmirae Party, there are also concerns that the issue might eventually be swept under the rug due to the launch of the Minsheng Party.

On the 21st, the CEMC responded to the inquiry by stating, “Whether the expulsion followed the procedures stipulated in the party constitution is a matter of interpreting the party constitution, which is beyond the jurisdiction of our committee. We ask for your understanding.”

A representative from the Minsheng Party, which originated from the Bareunmirae Party, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 26th, “It is necessary to clearly examine political actions and whether they are actually feasible,” adding, “If factional conflicts arise within the party, they might just hold a party meeting and expel members. This could be abused in the future.”

The proportional representation members affiliated with the Ahn Cheol-soo faction who carried out the self-expulsion are also in a difficult position. Although they participated in the founding of the People’s Party, they have not formally joined it yet. They risk being embroiled in controversy over dual party membership.

Current party law prohibits dual party membership. According to Articles 42 and 55 of the Party Act, no one may be a member of two or more political parties, and violations are punishable by imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 1 million won.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 18th, lawmakers Park Joo-sun, Kim Dong-cheol, Joo Seung-yong, Lim Jae-hoon, Choi Do-ja, Lee Sang-don, Kwon Eun-hee, Kim Sam-hwa, Kim Soo-min, Kim Jung-ro, Shin Yong-hyun, Lee Dong-seop, and Lee Tae-gyu held a party meeting and resolved to expel nine proportional representation members. Sohn’s camp immediately responded. Former Bareunmirae Party Secretary-General Hwang Han-ung visited the CEMC on the same day to conduct a face-to-face inquiry about the self-expulsion and demanded an answer. Sohn’s camp maintains that self-expulsion without disciplinary action from the Ethics Committee is impossible. According to the party constitution and regulations, the expulsion of a lawmaker must go through “Ethics Committee disciplinary action → party meeting expulsion.”

On the 19th, Sohn stated at the Supreme Council meeting, “Self-expulsion is illegal, and the party membership changes of those lawmakers are null and void,” adding, “If the Ahn Cheol-soo faction proportional representation members want to leave the party, they should resign honorably. Trying to keep their seats and privileges will not gain public approval.” Former Secretary-General Hwang also said, “We requested the National Assembly Secretariat to reject the party membership changes,” and “If it is processed, we will immediately file for an injunction to suspend its effect.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.