The People Power Party Central Ethics Committee was said to have held a meeting on the 20th and approved disciplinary measures for lawmakers Cho Kyung-tae, Seo Beom-soo, Kwon Young-jin and Jin Jong-oh. However, the specific level and grounds of the discipline appear set to be made public on the 21st.
The ethics panel was reported to have held a meeting at the central party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the day and approved disciplinary action against the four lawmakers. Of the six ethics Commissioners, five, including Chairperson Yoon Min-woo, attended. Chairperson Yoon drafted the decisions for the four and plans to make them public on the 21st.
The ethics panel can impose expulsion, a recommendation to leave the party, suspension of party membership, or a warning. All four lawmakers subject to discipline are expected to face heavy penalties of suspension of party membership or higher.
The key issue is the length of the discipline. With only 1 year and 8 months left until the next general election, if the suspension of party membership exceeds 1 year and 6 months, it effectively becomes impossible to run in the general election as a People Power Party candidate.
The fact that all four lawmakers are from the anti-leadership camp at odds with Representative Jang Dong-hyeok could further fuel controversy. If party membership is suspended, they lose the local party committee chair post that incumbent lawmakers customarily hold. That would open the possibility for pro-leadership politicians to take over as local party committee chairs in those districts.
The lawmakers facing discipline are expected to decide their response after seeing the level of punishment. Jin Jong-oh, who finished giving his explanation on the morning of the day, said, "Today's explanation process proceeded quite calmly."