Disciplinary Penalty Reduced for Rep. Kwon Young-jin Amid 'Collar-Grabbing' Controversy, Opening Path to General Election

The People Power Party's central ethics committee on Friday reduced the disciplinary penalty against Rep. Kwon Young-jin, who received a heavy sanction of a 18-month suspension of party membership over the 'floor leader collar-grabbing controversy,' to a one-year suspension in a retrial.

Rep. Kwon grabbed the collar of floor leader Rep. Chung Joung-gi while protesting his committee assignment for the latter half of the National Assembly, and was referred to the ethics committee, where he received an 18-month suspension of party membership. He requested a retrial, asking for a review of the legitimacy of the initial disciplinary procedure and the appropriateness of the penalty.

The ethics committee held a closed-door meeting at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on Friday morning and said in a press release that it "accepted the petitioner's explanation and found the retrial request justified, revoking the original punishment and deciding on a one-year suspension of party membership."

An 18-month suspension would have made it practically difficult for him to run as a People Power Party candidate in the 2028 general election, but the reduction to one year means his bid for the party's nomination will no longer be blocked.

After the retrial decision, Rep. Kwon posted on Facebook, "I accept the retrial result," offering an apology and saying he would fulfill his duties as a member of the National Assembly.