On February 13, 2026, a political storm swept through South Korea’s People Power Party as the Central Ethics Committee handed down a one-year suspension of party membership to Bae Hyun-jin, a prominent pro-Han Dong-hoon figure and chairperson of the Seoul City Party Committee. The decision, made just months ahead of the crucial June 3 local elections, has triggered a fierce internal backlash and cast a spotlight on deepening divisions within the party.
Bae Hyun-jin’s suspension, as reported by multiple outlets including Hankyoreh, JoongAng Ilbo, and Kyunghyang Shinmun, stems from a series of actions the Ethics Committee deemed violations of party rules and public ethics. Chief among these was Bae’s posting of a photo of a minor—presumed to be the granddaughter of a social media critic—on her Facebook account without any mosaic or consent, accompanied by derogatory comments. The Committee concluded that this act had the potential for psychological, emotional, and even threatening harm, and was both defamatory and offensive to the general public’s ethical sentiments.
In its official decision, the Committee stated, “Posting the photo of a minor without consent, especially with accompanying disparaging remarks, constitutes a violation of party regulations and ethical standards.” The Committee further noted that Bae ignored repeated public requests to remove the photo for several days, aggravating the severity of the infraction. Ironically, just two weeks prior, Bae herself had proposed a legal amendment aimed at harshly punishing those who disclose personal information online without consent—a move now cited as contradictory to her own conduct.
While this incident was the decisive factor in the disciplinary action, the Ethics Committee also cited additional allegations against Bae. These included posting defamatory comments about former President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife, as well as mocking party leader Jang Dong-hyuk’s hunger strike on social media. However, these latter incidents resulted in lighter disciplinary responses: a warning and a cautionary notice, respectively. The Committee deferred judgment on whether Bae had misrepresented opposition to Han Dong-hoon’s expulsion as the collective stance of the entire Seoul City Party Committee, citing difficulty in ascertaining the facts.
According to OhmyNews, Bae’s suspension is the third major disciplinary action against pro-Han Dong-hoon faction members under the leadership of Jang Dong-hyuk. Former party leader Han Dong-hoon was previously expelled, and Kim Jong-hyuk, another key ally, was urged to leave the party. The rapid escalation of internal strife has left many party members and observers questioning the leadership’s motives and the future direction of the party.
In the wake of the Ethics Committee’s announcement, Bae Hyun-jin convened a press conference at the National Assembly, flanked by Han Dong-hoon and several other pro-Han lawmakers. Her remarks were scathing: “Today, the Jang Dong-hyuk leadership cowardly and cunningly hid behind the Ethics Committee to seize Seoul’s nomination rights,” she declared. “This reckless attack will soon come back to harm those who wielded it.” Bae described the disciplinary action as “expected but unacceptable,” and accused the party leadership of orchestrating an internal purge to consolidate control over candidate nominations in Seoul.
Bae further emphasized her own democratic legitimacy, stating, “I was elected as Seoul City Party chairperson through a delegate election among the 17 metropolitan areas, and for over six months, I have worked to restore and prepare our party’s election organization in Seoul.” She warned that the leadership’s actions would undermine the party’s prospects in the upcoming local elections, suggesting that “the people of Seoul will not be deceived by such transparent power plays.”
Her defiant tone was echoed by other pro-Han lawmakers. Park Jung-hoon, for instance, wrote on Facebook, “Disciplining the Seoul City Party chairperson just before the election is not only self-destructive but also an act that benefits the opposition.” An Sang-hoon described the disciplinary action as a “declaration of surrender in the local elections,” while Han Ji-a warned that it “plants the seeds of defeat in Seoul.” Calls for the resignation of party leader Jang Dong-hyuk grew louder, with some demanding the removal of those deemed responsible for the so-called “purge.”
Despite the uproar, Jang Dong-hyuk and party spokespeople maintained that the Ethics Committee is an independent body and that disciplinary actions are necessary to uphold party discipline. As Jang stated in an interview with SBS, “While party unity and broadening our appeal are important, principles and standards must be upheld. Failing to address requests for disciplinary action is also problematic.” The party’s chief spokesperson reiterated, “The Ethics Committee operates independently, and the party cannot interfere in its decisions.”
According to party rules, Bae’s suspension means she will lose her position as Seoul City Party chairperson and her authority over candidate nominations for the June 3, 2026 local elections. The deputy chairperson or the party leader will appoint an acting chairperson, and a by-election for the post is expected. Although Bae will retain her seat in the National Assembly, her influence within the party—especially regarding the all-important Seoul nominations—has been effectively nullified for the duration of her suspension.
Bae has the right to request a re-examination of the disciplinary action within 10 days, and she indicated she is considering both an appeal and possible legal action. “I will continue to fight to protect Seoul,” she vowed, signaling that the conflict is far from over.
The Ethics Committee, for its part, insisted that its decision was not influenced by political considerations or electoral calculations. “If we were to make decisions based on political circumstances, public opinion, or internal party dynamics, the credibility and very existence of the Ethics Committee would be called into question,” the Committee asserted in its official statement.
Nevertheless, the fallout has been swift and severe. Pro-Han Dong-hoon lawmakers accused the leadership of using the Ethics Committee as a tool for political retaliation, with some warning that the move could “collapse the Seoul City Party’s election organization and amount to conceding the election,” as cited by News1. The disciplinary action has only deepened the rift between rival factions, raising concerns about the party’s unity and its chances in the fast-approaching elections.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the People Power Party faces a critical test of its internal cohesion and public credibility. With the local elections looming and the battle lines drawn, the consequences of this disciplinary showdown are likely to reverberate far beyond the party’s headquarters in Seoul.