The People Power Party’s Seoul Metropolitan Party Ethics Committee ruled on February 10 to urge YouTuber and party member Ko Sung-kuk to voluntarily withdraw from the party, citing a violation of decorum standards.
The decision came after Ko’s January 29 YouTube broadcast, where he declared, “Hang photos of Chun Doo-hwan and President Yoon Suk-yeol in the party headquarters across all districts.”
Party lawmakers’ offices viewed the statement as undermining dignity, prompting the ethics panel to recommend voluntary departure rather than formal expulsion, as the infraction did not meet thresholds for harsher action.
Ko Sung-kuk, who joined the PPP in early January and maintains close ties to the leadership faction, skipped the committee meeting and offered no formal defense.
Despite the Seoul branch’s ruling, Lawmaker Jo Jeong-hoon described Ko as a “special special party member.” Jang Ye-chan, deputy director at the Yoido Research Institute, referred to him as “daebunim,” signaling internal respect amid the controversy.
The party’s central ethics committee and disciplinary panel have yet to issue decisions, leaving room for potential changes to the recommendation.
