Seoul: The ethics committee of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has decided to expel former chief Han Dong-hoon following allegations that Han's family made defamatory remarks about former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife on a party-managed online forum.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the committee reached this decision in a meeting held late Tuesday, citing Han's actions as "extremely damaging to the party" and in violation of party rules that impede the PPP's progress and adversely influence public sentiment.
The controversy centers around accusations that Han's family posted disparaging comments about Yoon, who was removed from office due to a failed martial law attempt, and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, on the PPP's website bulletin board. Within the ethics committee's four-tier disciplinary structure, ranging from a warning to expulsion, Han has been slated for expulsion and will lose his party membership.
The committee also pointed out that Han has publicly acknowledged his delayed awareness of his family's involvement in creating the posts. In response to the committee's decision, Han took to Facebook to share a brief message, declaring his intent to "defend democracy together with the people."
The PPP is experiencing internal discord following the decision, with members loyal to Han criticizing the move. Representative Woo Jae-jun, part of the party's youth supreme council, labeled the expulsion as lacking "legitimacy" and described it as "retaliation" against Han for his support of Yoon's impeachment. Conversely, PPP media spokesperson Park Min-young endorsed the committee's decision, emphasizing that "manipulation of public opinion is not democracy."
Han's expulsion awaits finalization at a supreme council meeting scheduled for Thursday.