ⓒYONHAP News

The ethics committee of the ruling People Power Party(PPP) has suspended the party membership of its chair, Lee Jun-seok, for six months over the allegation that he tried to destroy evidence related to a sexual bribery case.

The committee chief, Lee Yang-hee, announced the decision early on Friday after the committee's marathon deliberation that lasted for nearly eight hours from 7 p.m. Thursday at the National Assembly.

The committee decided on the heavy punishment after listening to the PPP chair's explanation of the alleged offenses.

Lee has been facing allegations that he received sexual services paid for by a businessperson in 2013 and he sought to destroy related evidence through Kim Cheol-geun, his political affairs chief, by arranging an investment pledge of 700 million won in the person’s firm.

The ethics committee chief said it is hard to believe Lee's explanation that he was not aware of the alleged destruction of evidence.

Suspension of party membership is the second-lowest punishment in the PPP's four-tier disciplinary system but considered a heavy penalty for the party chair.

Meanwhile, the committee also decided to suspend the party membership of Kim for the next two years.

Following the announcement, Lee  said on Friday that he will take all possible measures to reverse the PPP ethics committee's decision to suspend his party membership for six months.

Lee made the remarks on Friday morning during a KBS radio show, adding that he has no intention of stepping down.

Lee said he would pursue every avenue against the ethics panel's decision, including filing for a court injunction and requesting a reexamination.

The PPP chair said that he cannot help but raise the issue of fairness and protest the panel's heavy punishment, given that the decision was made before a proper investigation by relevant law authorities or a court ruling.