PPP Factional Rift Reignites Year After Yoon Impeachment

People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Chang Dong-hyuk said Wednesday that "taking strict action against such behavior and uniting the party to fight together is far more important," regarding former Supreme Council member Kim Jong-hyuk, a pro-Han (pro-Han Dong-hoon) faction figure who received a recommendation for a two-year suspension of party membership from the party's audit committee.

Chang made the remarks to reporters after volunteering to deliver coal briquettes at Hwajeon Village in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, emphasizing that "allowing people who engage in such behavior to go unchecked is incompatible with building a party that can unite and fight properly as a single force."

Regarding the audit committee's decision, Chang said "it would not be appropriate to comment on the results as [the committee] operates independently of the party leadership or chairman." However, his remarks are widely interpreted as effectively expressing support for heavy disciplinary action against the former Supreme Council member.

"Party unity is important, but since the party convention I've said that 'uniting the party is crucial' and that 'one enemy inside is more fearsome than 50 enemies outside,'" Chang said. "There will soon be an opportunity for me to clarify my position on how to lead the party toward unity and expand our base."

He added, "I find it difficult to agree with claims that this [audit committee investigation] undermines party unity or hinders expansion."

In contrast, former Supreme Council member Kim strongly pushed back on Facebook the same day, writing, "Don't be mistaken that I'll cower and shut my mouth if you try to intimidate me with a suspension of party membership."

"It's not just me. The audit committee is also pushing to discipline former Chairman Han Dong-hoon using the party community incident as a pretext," Kim wrote. "Chang Ye-chan, who was appointed deputy director of the Yeouido Institute, compared former Chairman Han to pus and said he would squeeze it out by year-end. They say that's how the Chang Dong-hyuk system will find its way forward."

Kim stated, "If the ethics committee accepts the audit committee's disciplinary decision, I will immediately file for an injunction," adding, "I will take on those trying to destroy party democracy and let the courts determine who was right."