Ahead of the June 3 local elections, the People Power Party, already reeling from a cut-off dispute, has now come under fire over a personnel issue.
According to political circles on the 26th, the People Power Party included broadcaster Lee Hyuk-jae, who caused an uproar over an assault on a hostess bar employee, as a judge for the "proportional metropolitan councilor youth audition." Lee was named as a judge alongside Rep. Kang Myeong-gu, the party's deputy director of organization; Rep. Cho Ji-yeon, a member of the talent recruitment committee; short-track gold medalist Song Seok-woo; Jung Joon-ha, director of external cooperation at the National Federation of Hundred-Year Small Business Owners; and Kim Chae-su, chair of the Central University Students' Committee.
Lee will judge finalists in the People Power Party's proportional metropolitan councilor youth audition. The People Power Party introduced Lee as an MBC open-recruitment comedian and YouTuber with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Inha University.
Lee halted all activities in the entertainment industry in 2010 over an assault case involving a hostess bar employee. In 2024, the name was also listed among high-amount tax delinquents. There were also no shortage of controversies over so-called debt accusations and other money-related disputes. After the 2024 martial law, Lee also publicly made remarks on several YouTube programs defending former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
An aide in the office of a People Power Party lawmaker expressed dismay at the news of Lee's appointment as a judge, saying, "I have nothing to say."
Park Min-young, the media Spokesperson who had sparked several controversies, was also reappointed. At the supreme council meeting held that day, the People Power Party approved a motion to reappoint a total of seven people, including two Spokespersons and five media Spokespersons whose terms expired on the 14th. Park Min-young, the media Spokesperson who had drawn attention, was also reappointed.
Park said to Rep. Kim Ye-ji, who is visually impaired, "I cannot explain why you must receive proportional-representation preferential treatment twice from the People Power Party," and told the party's senior advisory council to "build metacognition (self-objectification)," sparking a "coarse language" controversy.
Lawmakers close to Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon demanded a personnel overhaul from leader Jang Dong-hyeok, citing Park as a representative example of an inappropriate appointment.
Spokesperson Ham In-kyung, asked by reporters that day why Park was reappointed, said, "There have been many concerns about conduct that personally attacks the leadership and openly criticizes it," adding, "With local elections ahead, there are areas where the spokespersons need to join forces and fight, so I understand the decision was made to reappoint the spokespersons en bloc."
On Facebook the same day, Park said, "I deeply empathize with some of the concerns and fully recognize my responsibility. I will be especially careful to ensure that the same mistakes are not repeated during the remainder of my term," but added, "My actions thus far were only proportional, defensive responses to slander against the leadership and contempt for party members, and were not representing any particular ideology or faction."
Rep. Cho Eun-hee criticized, asking, "With the reappointment of the media Spokesperson, are you saying the party intends to sink to tolerating coarse language toward party advisers and people with disabilities?"