Court Rules "Expulsion of Former MP Cha Myung-jin from People Power Party Invalid"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The court ruled to cancel the resolution of the United Future Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) that expelled former lawmaker Cha Myung-jin over the controversy surrounding his 'Sewol ferry tent slander' remarks.

The Seoul High Court Civil Division 1 (Presiding Judge Jeon Ji-won, Judges Lee Ye-seul and Lee Jae-chan) overturned the first trial's dismissal of former lawmaker Cha's lawsuit against the People Power Party to nullify the expulsion resolution and ruled in favor of the plaintiff on all counts on the 3rd.

The court stated, "It is confirmed that the expulsion resolution against the plaintiff (former lawmaker Cha) made at the Supreme Council meeting held by the defendant (United Future Party) on April 13, 2020, is invalid," adding, "The defendant decided on the expulsion at the Supreme Council without going through any review or resolution by the Ethics Committee. This is a serious procedural defect."

Former lawmaker Cha was expelled by the party two days before the general election after stating on a broadcast debate last April that "I already know of an article reporting that in May 2018, Sewol ferry volunteers and Sewol ferry bereaved families engaged in indecent acts inside a tent that cannot be expressed in words."

In response, former lawmaker Cha filed an injunction to suspend the effect of the expulsion resolution and also filed a main lawsuit to confirm the nullity of the expulsion resolution against the party.

The Seoul Southern District Court Civil Division 51 (Chief Presiding Judge Kim Tae-up) accepted former lawmaker Cha's application on April 14 last year, the day before the general election, and decided to suspend the effect of the expulsion resolution. Former lawmaker Cha ran as the United Future Party candidate for the Gyeonggi Bucheon-byeong constituency but lost.

Subsequently, the Seoul Southern District Court Civil Division 12 (then Presiding Judge Kim Seon-il), which heard the main lawsuit's first trial, dismissed the case for failing to meet the litigation requirements.

Meanwhile, the United Future Party changed its name to the People Power Party in September last year while the main lawsuit was ongoing, thereby succeeding the lawsuit concerning former lawmaker Cha's expulsion.

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