The People Power Party (PPP) decided on the 27th to recommend that Rep. Kwon Young-jin voluntarily leave the party after he grabbed the collar of floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik in protest over the results of National Assembly standing committee assignments. The party's ethics committee launched disciplinary proceedings against Kwon. As the controversy spread, Kwon visited Jeong to apologize, and Jeong accepted the apology.
Park Sung-hoon, the PPP's chief spokesperson, met with reporters after a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day and said, "In the closed-door meeting, there was consensus without disagreement that Rep. Kwon's misconduct should be punished sternly and strongly." He added, "The prevailing opinions were to recommend that Rep. Kwon voluntarily leave the party, and if that is not accepted, to promptly convene the ethics committee for the highest level of discipline, including expulsion." Jeong, the party directly involved, did not attend the closed-door meeting that day. Ahead of the meeting, Jeong said, "I will forget all past personal grievances and fulfill my responsibilities as floor leader."
As the fallout from the collar-grabbing incident grew, Kwon visited Jeong that day to personally convey his apology. Kwon lowered his stance, saying, "My words and actions were wrong, regardless of the reasons. I feel deeply distressed and regretful," and "I offered an apology, and the floor leader gladly accepted it." Regarding the leadership's recommendation that he voluntarily leave the party, he said, "I have heard nothing about it at all, so I will think about it." Jeong said, "Rep. Kwon offered a sincere apology, saying it was a spontaneous incident, and I accepted it," adding, "It might be fine to watch and wait for a while."
Some within the party have raised concerns that political intent may be involved in the disciplinary demands, given that Kwon is classified as a non-leadership faction figure who has continuously been at odds with PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok. Woo Jae-jun, a PPP Supreme Council member, also said, "Rep. Kwon's actions were wrong," but added, "As long as the leadership continues its biased operation, it is difficult to expect a fair judgment on this matter as well." In response, Park drew a line, saying, "This should not be approached as an issue between the leadership faction and the non-leadership faction."
Meanwhile, the party's ethics committee decided that day to launch disciplinary proceedings against Kwon as well as Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae, who is suspected of inducing the electoral defeat of Deputy Speaker Park Duk-jum, and Rep. Jin Jong-oh, who faces allegations of supporting independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon during the June 3 local elections.
