Ruling party chief Jang moves to overhaul ethics committee despite cover-up allegations

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk has notified existing members of the party's ethics committee of his intention to replace them in order to form a new panel that deliberates and rules on member disciplinary actions, it was confirmed Tuesday. The current committee members were appointed on Jan. 8 this year and have about two months left in their terms. Under Article 7 of the party's ethics committee rules, members serve one-year terms and can be reappointed once.

Five of the six ethics committee members, including Chairman Yoon Min-woo, have expressed their intention to step down in line with the replacement plan. The move is seen as an effort by Jang, whose term as party leader runs through mid-August next year, to tighten his grip on the party.

Jang also rebuilt the ethics committee last November after then-Chairman Yeo Sang-won stepped down. Yeo said he resigned after receiving a message from a party official "asking me to announce my resignation as soon as possible." The newly formed committee at the time voted to expel former party leader Han Dong-hoon shortly after it began operating.

Ethics committee member Hwang Kyung-sung said in a statement Tuesday that the attempt to replace the committee was "clearing out troublemakers out of fear that the full story of a rigged disciplinary action would come to light." "From the expulsion of Rep. Han Dong-hoon in January to the disciplinary action against Rep. Jin Jong-oh in August, we have learned the full story and secured evidence," he said. He urged Jang and Chairman Yoon to reveal the full picture of the relevant disciplinary actions and work to uncover the truth.

Rep. Han Dong-hoon also claimed on Facebook on Tuesday, referring to the "conscience-driven confession" by committee member Hwang about a "rigged disciplinary action" against him, that his expulsion had been a "political purge."