Kwon Young-jin of the People Power Party said in connection with the party leadership urging him to voluntarily leave the party over the so-called collar-grabbing controversy, "There will never be a case where I voluntarily leave the party."
Kwon said this in a text message sent on the 1st to lawmakers in his party. Earlier, on the 23rd, Kwon visited the floor leader's office to protest strongly over dissatisfaction with the allocation of standing committees, grabbing Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik by the collar and sparking controversy.
Afterward, the People Power Party leadership decided on the 27th to urge Kwon, who caused the collar-grabbing controversy, to voluntarily leave the party. The leadership at the time said that if Kwon did not voluntarily leave, it would begin disciplinary procedures through the Central Ethics Committee. Accordingly, the People Power Party Ethics Committee proceeded with disciplinary procedures against Kwon the same day. However, only 3 of the 9 Ethics Committee members were present when the decision was made.
On this, Kwon said, "Despite my apology, the acceptance by the floor leader who was directly involved, and many lawmakers opposing discipline, the leadership meeting chaired last Monday by Jang Dong-hyeok recommended that I leave the party, and the party's Ethics Committee initiated disciplinary action against three lawmakers, including me."
He added, "Anyone who does wrong must bear corresponding responsibility and receive appropriate discipline commensurate with the wrongdoing," noting, "I have already taken responsibility by stepping down as Daegu City Party chairperson and as secretary of the Public Administration and Security Committee." He continued, "If the Ethics Committee decides on fair and appropriate discipline, I intend to accept it."
At a closed-door caucus on the 30th, he also said, "What happened that day was unquestionably my lapse and my fault. I will faithfully undergo the Ethics Committee's disciplinary process and wait calmly for the outcome."