So Joo-jin "Is Jeon Du-hwan the New Military Regime?" vs Lee Jun-seok "Infinite Self-Disgust" Party Turmoil Over Kwak Sang-do's Expulsion

Josujin "Democracy Values Procedure"
Lee Junseok "Don't Order Like Lecturing"

So Su-jin, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 27th of last month. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The People Power Party (PPP) is experiencing internal strife over the expulsion of independent lawmaker Kwak Sang-do (formerly of the PPP). During an emergency Supreme Council meeting held earlier, Supreme Council member Jo Su-jin claimed that "the only agenda item was the expulsion of lawmaker Kwak" and criticized, saying, "Even the Chun Doo-hwan military regime did not do this." In response, PPP leader Lee Jun-seok retorted, "I don't think it's necessary to conduct party affairs while listening to such remarks."

The conflict arose during the PPP's emergency Supreme Council meeting held at 9 p.m. on the 30th of last month. According to multiple media reports, Jo, who did not attend the meeting, reportedly sent a text message to reporters stating that "the only agenda item at the emergency meeting was the discussion of lawmaker Kwak's expulsion."

She also strongly criticized, saying, "The procedure itself was wrong. Even the Chun Doo-hwan military regime did not do this," and added, "I have seen emergency late-night Supreme Council meetings on issues like North Korea's nuclear tests, but democracy requires proper procedures."

Regarding Jo's claims, Lee dismissed them the next day (the 1st), stating, "There was no discussion of lawmaker Kwak's expulsion at the Supreme Council meeting."

In an interview with a media outlet that day, Lee explained, "I think a certain Supreme Council member misunderstood. She sent a text saying she would not participate in the expulsion discussion of lawmaker Kwak, but I don't know why that happened. The Democratic Party pushed things through swiftly, so we were in a situation where we couldn't really proceed with such procedures, nor was there a vote."

Earlier, 51 lawmakers from the ruling coalition, including the Democratic Party, had sent a disciplinary and expulsion resolution regarding lawmaker Kwak to the National Assembly's Ethics Special Committee the day before.

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is coming out after an emergency Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the night of the 30th of last month. / Photo by Yonhap News

Lee also strongly opposed Jo's so-called "Chun Doo-hwan military regime" remark.

On the 1st, he wrote on his Facebook, "With the presidential election approaching, even moving a half-beat faster than usual is not enough, so I don't think it's necessary to conduct party affairs while listening to 'Chun Doo-hwan military regime' remarks." He criticized, "As soon as the party leader said there would be no protection for Kwak Sang-do, they have been looking for opportunities to attack and immediately did so, then engaged in media manipulation with reporters. Watching this, I feel infinite self-disgust." He then said, "Do whatever you want."

Lee also revealed part of a text message Jo sent him. According to Lee, Jo asked questions such as, "Regardless of the amount of lawmaker Kwak's son's severance pay, is that severance pay related to any crime or the illegal activities of Hwacheon Daeyu?" and "Is there any evidence that lawmaker Kwak received bribes from Hwacheon Daeyu?"

In response, Lee said, "Take your text as it is and try to persuade the public and party members. Don't order others as if lecturing; do it yourself. I can't do it."

Meanwhile, lawmaker Kwak had previously left the party after it was revealed that his son, Kwak Mo, received a huge severance pay of 5 billion won after working at Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management, the developer of the Daejang-dong project in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

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