Kim Jaewon and Tae Youngho Attend Ethics Committee... "Decision as Soon as Possible"

Kim Jaewon and Tae Youngho "Will Diligently Explain"
Ethics Committee Members Reach Consensus on "Quick Decision"

Kim Jae-won and Tae Young-ho, senior members of the People Power Party (PPP) who have been subject to disciplinary procedures by the party’s Ethics Committee due to a series of controversies, appeared at the Ethics Committee meeting on the 8th and expressed their intention to “diligently explain” their positions. The Ethics Committee plans to decide on their disciplinary measures as early as that day.

Before entering the PPP central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, Kim told reporters, “I will diligently explain and accept the judgment here (at the Ethics Committee).” He added, “The Ethics Committee is requesting explanations on three specific issues, so I plan to respond accordingly.”

Tae Young-ho, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party who has caused controversy due to a series of gaffes, is attending the Central Ethics Committee held at the People Power Party Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 8th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

When asked if he believes a severe disciplinary action would be unfair, Kim replied, “Since the disciplinary decision has not yet been made, I think it would be inappropriate to comment on that.”

Tae also emphasized, “I will enter the Ethics Committee today and thoroughly clarify the matters that led to the disciplinary reasons and express my feelings.”

He continued, “I would like to apologize to the people and party members for causing great burden and harm to the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. Regarding the leaked recording incident, I reiterate that Lee Jin-bok, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Presidential Office, never made any remarks related to nominations or the Supreme Council’s activities.”

He also reiterated that he has no intention of resigning voluntarily. Tae said, “If I had intended to resign voluntarily, I would have announced it before coming to the Ethics Committee.”

The Ethics Committee began its meeting at 4 p.m. at the central party office in Yeouido. After hearing explanations from Kim and Tae, it is expected to decide on the final level of disciplinary action.

Jeon Ju-hye, a member of the Ethics Committee and its vice-chair, told reporters before entering the meeting, “We will listen carefully to the explanations from Kim and Tae and try to make a prompt decision.”

Jeon added, “We will try to decide on the disciplinary level today if possible, but if we feel more careful consideration is needed after hearing the explanations, the decision might not be made today. However, given the party’s difficult situation and the crisis caused by the actions and remarks of the two members, there is considerable consensus among the Ethics Committee members on the need for a swift decision.”

Shortly after joining the party leadership, Kim attended a worship service led by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church and made a controversial remark that “the spirit of May 18 cannot be included in the Constitution,” for which he later apologized. He then faced criticism again after saying at a lecture for a Korean conservative group in Atlanta, Georgia, that “Pastor Jeon unified the right-wing camp.” He also referred to the Jeju 4.3 Incident as a “low-level memorial day,” drawing condemnation from the Jeju region and 4.3 organizations, which led to the disciplinary procedure.

Tae’s disciplinary procedure was initiated for three reasons: his statement during the party convention that “the Jeju 4.3 Incident was directed by North Korea’s Kim Il-sung,” his Facebook post containing the phrase “Junk Money Sex Democratic Party. Indeed JMS Democratic Party” related to the Democratic Party’s envelope money scandal, and the “leaked recording scandal” that sparked controversy over alleged interference by the Presidential Office in nominations.

Kim Jae-won, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, is attending the Ethics Committee held at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on the 8th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

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