People Power Party Ethics Committee Meeting Begins... Will Additional Disciplinary Action Against Lee Jun-seok Be Discussed?

Iyanghee "Proceeding with the meeting based on party rules
Did not make decisions or start coordination"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The Ethics Committee of the People Power Party's Central Party urgently convened its members and began a meeting on the 18th.

Lee Yang-hee, the party's Ethics Committee Chairperson, said in a meeting with reporters before the session, "The Ethics Committee never makes decisions or starts coordination under any circumstances," adding, "I emphasize again that meetings are always conducted based on the party constitution and regulations."

According to the People Power Party's constitution and regulations, an Ethics Committee meeting is held when the party leader or the Ethics Committee Chairperson deems it necessary, or when more than one-third of the Ethics Committee members request it.

Chairperson Lee also stated, "Since we are about to start the meeting now, I will not take any questions or answers here."

The Ethics Committee has maintained the position that no decision has been made regarding whether to put forward disciplinary measures against former party leader Lee Jun-seok. However, aside from the Lee Jun-seok case, there are no urgent matters within the party that require the Ethics Committee to change its meeting schedule for immediate discussion. The Ethics Committee was scheduled to hold a session on the 28th to hear explanations from lawmakers Kim Sung-won and Kwon Eun-hee, who are undergoing disciplinary procedures due to inappropriate remarks made during flood relief volunteer activities.

Additionally, at the People Power Party's parliamentary meeting held on the 27th of last month, there were calls for additional disciplinary action concerning Lee Jun-seok's remarks criticizing President Yoon Suk-yeol and the People Power Party, including terms like "dog meat," "sheep's head and dog meat," and "new military regime." In relation to this, the Ethics Committee issued a statement on the 1st, expressing that it "respects the opinions of the parliamentary meeting," leading to expectations that additional disciplinary measures will proceed swiftly. If Lee Jun-seok receives further disciplinary action, it is highly likely to be expulsion. Previously, Lee had been suspended from party membership for six months by the Ethics Committee due to allegations of instructing evidence destruction related to this matter.

Lee Jun-seok's police investigation the previous day also raises questions. On the same day, Lee posted on his Facebook, stating, "The investigation schedule for the morning of the 17th was confirmed after considerable coordination with the investigative agency well in advance, and until the investigation began, no other party members or media had access to this schedule. Coincidentally, from that point, rumors began circulating that the Ethics Committee would reschedule its meeting to the 18th or 19th," adding, "I hope this is just a coincidence."

Lee Jun-seok appeared at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Division the previous day and was questioned late into the night over allegations including receiving sexual favors and other hospitality. The police are reportedly investigating suspicions that Lee received sexual favors twice in 2013 from Kim Sung-jin, CEO of iKist, as well as various other hospitality benefits until around 2015.

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