Seoul: The supreme council of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Monday decided to ask a party member to voluntarily leave the party over his misconduct against the party whip during a heated protest over the assignment of parliamentary committee chairs last week. The incident has caused ripples within the party, highlighting the tensions that have been simmering beneath the surface.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the supreme council reached a consensus to request Rep. Kwon Young-jin to voluntarily leave the party and seek strong disciplinary action against him, including expulsion, if he refuses to comply. A party official noted the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the need for decisive action to maintain order and discipline within the ranks.

"The party leadership agreed unanimously that this is a serious issue that calls for stern punishment," PPP chief spokesperson Park Sung-hoon stated to reporters after a closed-door meeting of the party's supreme council. The consensus underscores the seriousness with which the party views the incident, signaling a zero-tolerance policy for such behavior.

The altercation occurred when Rep. Kwon, along with several other lawmakers, visited the office of PPP floor leader Jeong Jeom-sig, protesting the party's selection of committee chairs. During the confrontation, Rep. Kwon reportedly shouted at Rep. Jeong and grabbed him by the collar, an act that has been widely condemned within the party.

Despite the severity of the incident, Rep. Jeong expressed his intention to move forward, stating, "I will put all past grievances behind me and fulfill my responsibilities as the floor leader for the livelihoods of the people and the normalization of the country." His remarks aim to focus attention back on the party's broader goals and responsibilities.

The protest erupted following the National Assembly's election of the chairs of six standing committees allocated to the PPP. This came after a prolonged bipartisan deadlock over the formation of the Assembly's committees, a situation that has added to the political tension within the party.