Former People Power Party lawmaker Chang Je-won / Hankook Ilbo file

Key figures within the ruling conservative People Power Party (PPP), regarded as close allies of President Yoon Suk Yeol, are increasingly facing a series of legal challenges. Former PPP lawmaker Chang Je-won, who previously served as chief of staff for the Presidential Transition Committee, is accused of sexually assaulting a former secretary over a decade ago.

Meanwhile, Rep. Lee Chul-gyu, a former senior police officer and current PPP member, is facing scrutiny following the arrest of his son in connection with an alleged attempt to purchase drugs.

Chang said in a Facebook post on Wednesday, "The allegations are false," and announced his decision to temporarily leave the party due to the negative impact on the PPP at such a critical time. He added, "I strongly suspect that there may be a hidden conspiracy behind the sudden accusation of an incident that they claim occurred nearly 10 years ago."

Chang further noted, "I will certainly clear my name and will use all my efforts to gather records and evidence from 10 years ago to support my case legally. I will return after proving my innocence."

The allegations stem from a report published the day before, which claims Chang assaulted his secretary in November 2015 while serving as vice president at a university in Busan. The accuser, who allegedly drank with Chang after a photo session for his parliamentary campaign, claimed the assault took place afterward. The police confirmed that a formal complaint has been filed and that an investigation is currently underway, though further details were not disclosed.

Chang immediately denied the claims and promised to take legal action against those responsible for the report.

Rep. Lee Chul-gyu of the People Power Party / Newsis

On Feb. 28, Lee Chul-gyu, another PPP lawmaker and a key ally of Yoon, was implicated in a drug-related issue involving his son. Lee's son was caught by police on Oct. 29, 2024, in a residential area of Seocho District, Seoul, while attempting to obtain drugs using a method known as "throwing." It was revealed that the son had previously been caught for marijuana use but was not prosecuted.

The police stated that they were unaware the suspect was the son of a prominent lawmaker until media reports surfaced. The National Investigation Bureau said on Tuesday that since the suspect was an adult, there was no immediate need to investigate his family background during the investigation.

Lee, who is a three-term lawmaker and a former high-ranking police official, expressed regret after the reports broke, saying he was "deeply sorry" for his son's involvement in the scandal. Lee is considered a significant figure within the pro-Yoon faction of the PPP.