People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik said Monday he would "forget all past grievances and fulfill his duties as floor leader for the sake of the people's lives, the nation and the normalization of South Korea," seeking to put to rest a controversy sparked when a fellow PPP lawmaker grabbed him by the collar over a committee assignment dispute.
Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly, Jeong said he would "do everything in his role as floor leader to ensure such an incident never happens again."
"I am deeply sorry for causing concern to the public and party members over last week's regrettable incident," he said. "What happened last week is not a personal matter — it is a matter for the People Power Party, the party that represents conservatism."
He added that the incident should serve as an opportunity to restore the dignity of conservatism and the party's order, pledging to do his utmost to rebuild the PPP as a responsible party trusted by the public.
The dispute began Thursday, when Rep. Kwon Young-jin stormed into Jeong's office to protest the results of the National Assembly's second-half standing committee assignments, grabbing the floor leader by the collar in a heated confrontation. Kwon had been assigned as the steering member of the Public Administration and Security Committee but had reportedly sought the same role on the Intelligence Committee.
As the controversy spread, Kwon posted an apology in a lawmakers' group chat on Telegram and stepped down from both his designated role as steering member of the Public Administration and Security Committee and his expected appointment as the next PPP Daegu chapter chairman.
The PPP had been set to discuss disciplinary action and Kwon's future at a general assembly of lawmakers this week. However, with Jeong publicly signaling his intent to defuse the conflict, speculation has grown within and outside the party that the push for disciplinary measures may lose momentum.
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