Reform New Party in Peak Internal Conflict, 90% of Members Approve 'Heo Eun-a Resignation' Resolution

The reformist New Party leadership, led by the 'Pro-Lee Jun-seok faction,' decided on the 26th through a party member vote to remove Representative Heo Eun-ah and Supreme Council Member Cho Dae-won.

Cheon Ha-ram, the floor leader, and Lee Ju-young, the chair of the Policy Committee, along with other Lee Jun-seok faction leaders, held a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on the same day to announce the results of the party member recall vote conducted on the 24th and 25th against Representative Heo, and resolved to strip Heo of her representative position.

Heo Eun-ah, leader of the Reform New Party (left), and Cheon Ha-ram, floor leader. Photo by Yonhap News

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Floor leader Cheon and others initiated the party member recall vote, alleging that Representative Heo violated the party constitution and regulations during the appointment process of party officials and gave improper instructions to the Secretariat.

A total of 21,694 top-tier party members participated in the recall vote against Representative Heo, with 91.93% (19,943 members) in favor. Opposition accounted for 8.07% (1,715 members). In the vote regarding Supreme Council Member Cho, 92.84% (20,140 members) supported the recall.

According to the reformist New Party's constitution and regulations, the recall is confirmed if at least one-third of the top-tier party members participate in the vote and a majority of valid votes are in favor.

The conflict between Representative Heo and the Pro-Lee Jun-seok faction leadership surfaced on the 16th of last month when Heo dismissed Secretary-General Kim Cheol-geun, who is classified as a close aide to Representative Lee. It is reported that Heo and Secretary-General Kim had ongoing disputes over party management methods.

Floor leader Cheon stated, "Heo Eun-ah and Cho Dae-won should not deny the results but rather deeply reflect on the clear will of the party members. As individuals who have been elected as representatives, it is a matter of ethics to cooperate with the resolution without procedural confusion."

Representative Heo has expressed that the party member recall vote is illegal and cannot be accepted. She also filed for a provisional injunction to suspend the effect of the recall vote in court.

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