South Korea's People Power Party elects committee chairs amid ethics dispute and election fraud probe

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) completed the selection of six standing‑committee chairpersons within 54 days of the new parliamentary session, naming Kim Hee‑jung (Education), Yu Ui‑dong (Land, Infrastructure & Transport), Lee Man‑hee (Health & Welfare), Kim Sung‑won (Industry, Trade, Energy & SMEs), Song Seok‑jun (Foreign Affairs & Unification) and Lee Yang‑soo (Information). The appointments conclude negotiations with the opposition Democratic Party over committee leadership allocation.

PPP’s central ethics committee issued a disciplinary guideline stating that repeated, organized criticism of the party leader could lead to sanctions. Several ethics members objected, demanding an apology; one member resigned, citing personal risk.

A joint investigation unit seized documents and raided offices of Central Election Commission officials and Gyeonggi‑province election officials after finding evidence that vote‑turnout figures for the June 3 local elections may have been entered falsely. The probe also examines alleged overseas trips and related fund misuse by former CEC chair Noh Tae‑ak.

Opposition leader Jang Dong‑hyuk publicly accused President Lee of using a “joint mortgage” scheme to sell a personal property at favorable terms, claiming the deal outraged the public and bypassed tax scrutiny.