Seoul: An internal rift in the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) was observed to be intensifying after its ethics committee voted to expel former chief Han Dong-hoon over allegations his family posted defamatory comments about former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The ethics panel announced the decision in a late-night meeting, stating that Han will be expelled for actions deemed "extremely damaging to the party" and for violating party rules that hinder the PPP's development and negatively affect public sentiment.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Han's family is accused of uploading derogatory posts about Yoon, who was ousted over his failed martial law bid, and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, on a bulletin board of the PPP's website. The expulsion comes as the leadership of the current PPP chief, Jang Dong-hyeok, seeks to distance the embattled party from Yoon ahead of the June 3 local elections.
PPP lawmakers are divided over the committee's decision, with those aligned with Han denouncing the vote as politically motivated. Rep. Woo Jae-jun, a member of the party's youth supreme council, criticized the decision, calling it "retaliation" against Han for supporting Yoon's impeachment. Han, once a close aide to Yoon, was among party members who opposed Yoon's decree on the night of the martial law and later supported his impeachment.
Shortly after the decision was announced, Han posted a message on his Facebook page, saying he will "defend democracy together with the people." During a press conference, Han described the party's move as "another" declaration of martial law and vowed to block it "once again" with the people and party members, although he stated he has no intention to file for reconsideration.
Rep. Song Seok-jun expressed his disapproval on Facebook, stating that the decision marks "the death of democracy within the party." Meanwhile, other members of the party's leadership defended the panel's move. Rep. Shin Dong-wook, speaking on a local radio program, urged the leadership to prevent further escalation of the internal rift and noted a broad consensus within the party that the issue had dragged on too long.
On a YouTube channel, Rep. Kim Jae-won remarked that the decision marked an end to the "Yoon Suk Yeol era" and encouraged the party to "start fresh." PPP media spokesperson Park Min-young also supported the committee's decision, emphasizing that "manipulation of public opinion is not democracy."
The decision has sparked concerns that the escalating conflict could weaken the party in the upcoming local elections and alienate conservative supporters. Under the ethics committee's four-tier disciplinary system, which ranges from the lowest of warning to the highest of expulsion, Han will be expelled and stripped of his party membership. The committee noted that Han admitted he belatedly became aware of his family's involvement in the posts. Han's expulsion is expected to be finalized at a supreme council meeting.