The People Power Party Central Ethics Committee on the 13th voted to expel former leader Han Dong-hoon in connection with the so-called "party members' board (Dangge) affair," which erupted over allegations involving Han's family.
The party ethics panel held a meeting from 5 p.m. until late at night and, after discussing the level of discipline, reportedly reached a conclusion to impose expulsion.
Expulsion is a measure that strips party membership and is the most severe level of discipline stipulated in the People Power Party's rules. Under the party rules, discipline consists of four levels: expulsion, recommendation to leave the party, suspension of party membership, and warning.
However, expulsion is not finalized by an ethics panel vote alone. Under the People Power Party's rules, expulsion of a party member is finalized after a Supreme Council vote following the ethics panel's resolution. Accordingly, whether to expel the former leader Han will be decided through a future Supreme Council discussion.