People Power Party lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin held a press conference at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 13th and criticized the heavy disciplinary action of "one-year suspension of party membership" against her, saying, "The leadership under Jang Dong-hyeok hid behind the Central Ethics Committee and made a cowardly and cunning choice to rob the Seoul nomination rights."
Bae said, "The unprecedented way for Jang Dong-hyeok's leadership to survive is only through purges within the party," adding, "With the incompetent leader Jang Dong-hyeok, who cannot survive unless he makes and seeks enemies inside the party, it will be hard to handle the local elections. He has effectively driven the People Power Party into bankruptcy."
Bae said, "By tying Bae Hyun-jin's hands and feet for a year to privatize the Seoul nomination rights and push through parachute nominations, do you think Seoul citizens won't see the real intent?" adding, "With power that now appears unchecked, they may temporarily suspend my party membership, but it will be hard to withstand the public sentiment surging like a typhoon."
Bae said, "The Seoul party chair was democratically elected by delegates among the 17 metropolitan cities and provinces nationwide," adding, "For the past six months, I have prepared for the election while maintaining democratic communication with each district party chair in Seoul. Today, the leadership under Jang Dong-hyeok moved to impose disciplinary measures to neutralize all election preparations carried out under the Bae Hyun-jin system."
Bae said, "I will continue the fight to protect Seoul," adding, "As for the disciplinary action, I will make an assessment and provide details later."
After finishing the press conference, Bae left the National Assembly press room without taking separate questions. Lawmakers aligned with former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, known as the pro–Han Dong-hoon group, were present at the briefing.