The People Power Party's Party Affairs Audit Committee decided on the 25th to impose a three-year suspension of party membership on former Emergency Committee Chairperson Kwon Young-se and former National Election Commission Chairman Lee Yang-soo in relation to the attempted candidate replacement incident in the 21st presidential election, prompting Member of Parliament Kweon Seong-dong to protest, saying, 'I should also be subject to discipline.'
On this day, Kweon noted on Facebook, 'Today's announcement is very regrettable as it is an arbitrary and biased decision.'
The attempted candidate replacement by the People Power Party refers to the party leadership's attempt to replace the presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo, the former Minister of Employment and Labor, with Han Duck-soo, the former Prime Minister, which ultimately fell through.
He said, 'This matter has both legal and political elements.' However, he added, 'the court has already concluded the legal controversy through its dismissal ruling, and the political conflict has also been resolved by Kim Moon-soo's grand decision.'
He further stated, 'Nevertheless, for the Party Affairs Audit Committee to make an arbitrary interpretation that goes beyond the court's judgment from a result-oriented perspective only adds unnecessary burdens to our party, which is already experiencing unprecedented difficulties.'
Kweon emphasized, 'During the presidential election phase, the party leadership's duty is to select the most competitive candidate and support victory.' He continued, 'Of course, this duty cannot serve as unrestricted immunity for all actions, but the two have already taken political responsibility by resigning from their party positions at that time.' He added, 'I also expressed my intention to resign, but I only performed a limited role at the request of then-candidate Kim Moon-soo.'
Kweon stated, 'Nevertheless, the Party Affairs Audit Committee is excessively focusing on this matter alone,' and added, 'Moreover, there has not been a proper investigation into other pressing issues that are equally significant throughout the current chairperson's term. This illustrates that the neutrality and fairness of the investigative agency have already been significantly compromised.'
He remarked, 'This decision must be corrected,' explaining, 'Making some people a sacrificial lamb does not resolve the present crisis.'
He continued, 'I request the Party Affairs Audit Committee. I too ask that the two of you be subject to disciplinary action.' He affirmed, 'I will not hide behind the arbitrary pardon of the chairperson, who says, 'I will overlook this,' and I will not fear targeted discipline.'
Kweon asserted, 'Not only this matter but also all other issues should subject the parties involved in the controversy to the same standards for the ethics committee,' adding, 'That is the minimum action that aligns with the initial purpose of the Party Affairs Audit Committee for the remainder of its term.'
Previously, Yu Il-jun, Chairperson of the Party Affairs Audit Committee, stated during the briefing on the audit results regarding the attempted candidate replacement at the party's Yeouido office on this day, 'The attempt to replace the candidate based on Article 74, Paragraph 2 of the party constitution was judged to lack a basis in the party constitution and regulations.'
The decision by the Party Affairs Audit Committee was made unanimously by six of the seven members present. The suspension of party membership for members of the People Power Party can range from a minimum of one month to a maximum of three years.
The ethics committee of the party is planning to make a final decision based on the investigation by the Party Affairs Audit Committee.
If the three-year suspension of party membership for Kwon Young-se and Lee Yang-soo is confirmed, the two members will not be able to run as candidates for the People Power Party in the 2028 general election.
Member of Parliament Kwon Yong-se said regarding the decision of the Party Affairs Audit Committee, 'I cannot accept it,' and added, 'I am confident it will be corrected, and those who led such factional decisions will inevitably bear their proper responsibilities.'