Senior People Power Party lawmakers serving four or more terms met on the 26th and urged the leadership to reconsider heavy disciplinary measures imposed by the party ethics committee on four sitting lawmakers. They also requested a meeting between party leader Chang Dong-hyeok and the senior lawmakers.
Rep. Lee Jong-bae told reporters at the National Assembly that the disciplinary issue risked undermining unity and cohesion within the party. Some argued the matter required careful deliberation, while others said the lawmakers facing punishment should also make efforts for the sake of party unity, Lee said.
Nine lawmakers attended the meeting, including Lee, Joo Ho-young, Kim Sang-hoon, Yoon Jae-ok, Kim Ki-hyun, Cho Bae-sook, Na Kyung-won, Park Dae-chul and Yoo Eui-dong.
Lee added that some participants called for careful deliberation and partial easing of the penalties, noting that a review process would allow the decisions to be revised. "Since only nine of the 19 attended, we will convene the lawmakers again soon to gather additional views," he said. "We will make sure senior lawmakers speak with a clearer voice going forward."
Contrary to expectations that the meeting would address Chang's future as leader, no such discussion took place. The absence of more than half of the lawmakers with four or more terms appeared to be a factor.
On Chang's remarks about senior lawmakers making sacrifices in the next general election, Lee said some participants suggested Chang had spoken after seeing headlines indicating that the veterans would voice positions differing from his own. "If a meeting between the party leader and senior lawmakers takes place, we will be able to discuss this issue candidly as well," he said.
