Saenuri suspends three Park loyalists' membership

SEOUL, Jan. 20 (Yonhap) -- The ethics committee of the ruling Saenuri Party on Friday suspended the membership of key loyalists to President Park Geun-hye as part of a sweeping reform drive led by its new chief.

Rep. Suh Chung-won and Rep. Choi kyoung-hwan had their memberships on hold for three years, and Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun for one year.

Party leader In Myung-jin has been seeking to remove key Park allies to salvage the party from the biggest crisis in its history caused by a scandal that led to Park's impeachment in December.

Earlier this week, the party also decided to suspend the membership of Rep. Kim Hyun-ah, a lawmaker elected as a proportional representative, for three years as she defected to the splinter Bareun Party.

colin@yna.co.kr
(END)