Tensions Over 'Kim Jaewon Discipline'... Hwang Junggeun Nominated as New Ethics Committee Chair of the Ruling Party

Senior Party Members' Candid Criticism to Leadership
"Words and Actions Befitting Dignity" · "Decisive Action on Difficult Matters"

Hwang Jeong-geun, a lawyer, has been nominated as the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee of the People Power Party's Central Party. Inside and outside the party, there is talk that the first agenda item for the new Ethics Committee could be the discussion on whether to proceed with disciplinary action against Supreme Council Member Kim Jae-won.

According to the People Power Party on the 12th, Party Leader Kim Ki-hyun will approve the proposal to elect Lawyer Hwang as the Ethics Committee Chairperson and Professor Shin Ui-jin of Yonsei University College of Medicine as the Party Audit Committee Chairperson at the Supreme Council meeting to be held at the National Assembly on the 13th.

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the joint meeting of the Supreme Council members and senior lawmakers held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The Ethics Committee had previously become vacant after Chairperson Lee Yang-hee and all members resigned following the disciplinary decision against former Party Leader Lee Jun-seok. If Lawyer Hwang is appointed as the Ethics Committee Chairperson, a new committee will be formed in consultation with the party. The appointments are reportedly still in progress.

Lawyer Hwang graduated from Seoul National University Law School and is from the 15th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. He has served as a litigation counselor at the Court Administration Office and as a judicial research officer at the Supreme Court. Known as an expert in political law (election, National Assembly, political funds law), Lawyer Hwang acted as the representative for the National Assembly in the 2016 impeachment trial of former President Park Geun-hye. He also served as the legal representative for the People Power Party in the Constitutional Court lawsuit on 'complete removal of prosecutorial investigative powers' (Geomsu Wanbak) and in the injunction application case to suspend the effectiveness of former Party Leader Lee Jun-seok.

The first task for the new Ethics Committee is expected to be the disciplinary action against Supreme Council Member Kim. Kim has caused controversy with remarks such as opposing the inclusion of the May 18 Democratic Spirit in the Constitution and supporting Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon's 'right-wing unification,' leading him to suspend all public activities for a month.

In this regard, senior party lawmakers voiced strong criticism to the leadership. At the 'Supreme Council-Senior Lawmakers Joint Meeting' held at the National Assembly on the morning of the same day, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Chung Woo-taek said, "Those at the center of our party and the lawmakers should conduct themselves in a manner befitting the ruling party's dignity," adding, "If such conduct is not maintained, party members working on the ground will struggle, so strict measures must be taken regarding this." Former Emergency Response Committee Chairperson Chung Jin-seok also said, "It is natural for the leadership to clearly distinguish rewards and punishments," and added, "If necessary disciplinary actions are not taken decisively, progress cannot be made. Do not show hesitation." This is interpreted as a call for disciplinary action against Supreme Council Member Kim, considering that the leadership's missteps could be linked to next year's general election.

Party Leader Kim also took steps to enforce discipline within the party. At the meeting of provincial party chairpersons held at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the same day, Kim said, "The atmosphere for next year's general election is heating up in the regions, and many people are moving with intentions," emphasizing, "I am worried that unexpected incidents might cause controversy, make the public frown, or violate public sentiment."

Kim continued, "There is an old saying that if you want to accomplish great things, you must first discipline your own household," and added, "I ask everyone to be careful with every word and action so that neither the public nor outsiders frown upon the various matters occurring within the organization."

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