Jang meets Ahn amid 'rigged expulsion' row as pro-Han faction steps up pressure

Tensions within the People Power Party are escalating between the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction and the party leadership over allegations that the ethics committee's expulsion ruling against independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon was manipulated. Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok met with Ahn Cheol-soo, a senior lawmaker who has been critical of Han, as part of efforts to build alliances among veteran members, while the pro-Han bloc pressed the leadership to establish an independent investigation.

According to political sources, Jang met with Ahn — a four-term veteran — for about 30 minutes Friday morning at the National Assembly members' office building to exchange views on the party's direction and key issues. The meeting was arranged at Jang's initiative and proceeded in a cordial atmosphere.

Jang told Ahn he was grateful that Ahn had "served as an anchor and played the role of a senior lawmaker" on matters including the fight against the ruling bloc and internal party affairs. Ahn responded that "a party is an organization where people who move in the same direction unite and fight together," a remark widely interpreted as a criticism of the intraparty divisions surrounding the pro-Han faction.

The meeting drew attention because it came immediately after Ahn publicly criticized Han and the pro-Han faction on Thursday.

On Thursday, Ahn wrote on Facebook that the push for Han's reinstatement amounted to "the behavior of a water ghost trying to drown conservatives, right-wingers and PPP members alike in the 'river of party return' — they might as well just found a new party." The meeting has prompted speculation that Jang moved quickly to secure a key ally within the party.

The pro-Han faction, meanwhile, kept up its offensive, demanding a full investigation into the allegations that the expulsion ruling had been manipulated. The faction argued that the party leadership must form an independent investigative body, particularly given that a sitting ethics committee member had personally raised concerns about the disciplinary process.

Yoon Sang-hyun, a five-term lawmaker seen as close to Han, called on Facebook Friday for the party to "form an independent fact-finding committee in connection with the ethics committee member's disclosure of 'disciplinary manipulation.'"

"The fact that a sitting ethics committee member who directly participated in the disciplinary decision has raised concerns makes this a serious matter that puts the entire party's credibility at stake," Yoon said. "If the truth of the allegations remains unverified while political sparring continues, the internal conflict and distrust within the party will only deepen."

Yoon added that "since the leadership has demanded an explanation from ethics committee member Hwang Gyeong-seong, an independent fact-finding committee with objectivity and impartiality must be formed," and that "figures from across factional lines and outside experts should participate to thoroughly examine the disciplinary decision-making process and whether there was any external interference."

Lawmakers aligned with the pro-Han faction also joined the calls for an investigation.

Ahn Sang-hoon said on KBS Radio that "the ethics committee member made a conscience declaration — it came from the person directly involved," adding that "a proper, transparent investigation must be carried out at the party level."

Park Jeong-hun said on MBC Radio that "it has all come to light that the grounds for the disciplinary action were fabricated and that the independence of the ethics committee was compromised," calling it "a violation of party rules and an abuse of authority that is legally problematic and subject to criminal punishment."

The controversy over the alleged manipulation of the disciplinary ruling is expected to continue for now. Hwang Gyeong-seong, the ethics committee member who raised the allegations, refused Thursday to appear before the party's supreme council meeting and has announced plans to release evidence as early as next week showing that Jang communicated with the ethics committee — an independent body — outside proper channels.