Baek Hyun-jin Suspended from Party for a Year: Han National University Ruling Party Ethics Committee Decision

The People Power Party’s Central Ethics Committee has issued a one-year suspension of party membership to Representative Bae Hyun-jin, a move stemming from a series of controversies, including her response to the attempted expulsion of a former party leader.

The committee cited multiple reasons for the disciplinary action, announced on February 13, 2026. These included allegations that Bae spread defamatory statements about the family of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, disparaged the fast of party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, and posted a photograph of a minor on social media. However, the committee reportedly reserved judgment on whether Bae improperly presented the views of the Seoul chapter as representing the entire party in opposing the expulsion of former Representative Han Dong-hoon.

While the suspension does not result in the loss of Bae’s parliamentary seat, it does strip her of the authority to participate in candidate nominations for upcoming local elections, as chairwoman of the Seoul Metropolitan Party. According to the People Power Party’s regulations, expulsion is the most severe penalty, followed by a recommendation to leave the party, suspension of party rights, and a warning.

Bae has ten days from the date of notification to request a reconsideration of the decision. If the suspension is upheld, it is expected to trigger a period of internal strife within the party, particularly concerning control over candidate selections. The party’s rules allow for the Seoul Metropolitan Party’s senior vice-chairpersons to temporarily assume Bae’s responsibilities, or for the party leader to appoint a temporary replacement.

The disciplinary process began on February 6, when the ethics committee initiated a review of allegations against Bae. She was subsequently summoned to the party headquarters on February 11 to present her defense. Prior to that meeting, Bae reportedly expressed concerns that the disciplinary action was politically motivated and could hinder the party’s preparations for local elections, stating, “Politically, we can discipline the chairman of the party who is not in favor of or difficult, but we cannot discipline the public sentiment.” She also voiced fears that the ethics committee’s decision could lead to the dismantling of the Seoul Metropolitan Party organization, which had been under development for six months.

Bae further argued that the grounds for disciplinary action were based on “assumptions and misunderstandings along with untrue content,” and expressed hope that the ethics committee would exercise “common sense and rational judgments.”

The situation unfolds against a broader backdrop of political maneuvering in South Korea. The National Assembly is currently debating a bill to establish a second special prosecutor, proposed by the Democratic Party, with the People Power Party and the Reform Party also involved. The bill has prompted a filibuster led by Representative Cheon Ha-ram of the Reform Party, who argued for investigations into the Unification Church and potential irregularities in candidate nominations, rather than a probe into allegations against former President Yoon Suk-yeol.