People Power Party Won't Review Disciplinary Action Against Lee Jin-suk Over May 18 Seminar Controversy

▲ People Power Party Representative Lee Jin-suk

The leadership of the People Power Party announced that it is not considering disciplinary action against Representative Lee Jin-suk, who has been at the center of controversy after holding a seminar on the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement alongside a right-wing group.

Chief Spokesperson Park Sung-hoon told reporters at the National Assembly on the 17th, "Since it was an academic event and (Representative Lee) has stated that the remarks made at the event are unrelated to her own stance, we are not considering disciplinary action at this point."

"Regarding the May 18 Democratization Movement, the People Power Party has stated its official party stance on multiple occasions. We are also paying attention to points of concern held by the public," Chief Spokesperson Park added, while noting, "However, we hope that these matters do not lead to excessive political offensives."

Representative Lee maintains her stance that there were no problems with the seminar.

Appearing on a YouTube channel the previous day, she claimed, "Presenters analyzed the significance that May 18 held from an academic perspective through comprehensive, multi-dimensional, and meaningful discussions," while arguing that May 18 should not be treated as a sacred taboo.

Meanwhile, around 3,700 party members with voting rights visited the central party headquarters in Yeouido on this day to submit a complaint urging disciplinary action against Representative Lee to the Central Ethics Committee.

In the complaint, they condemned her actions, stating, "Representative Lee was seen sitting side by side with Hur Hwa-pyung, chairman of the Future Korea Foundation, who served as the chief secretary to Chun Doo-hwan, the Defense Security Commander pointed to as the ultimate person responsible for the May 18 incident," and called it "a major disaster showing what kind of individuals the People Power Party shares its intentions with."

Concerns regarding Representative Lee's actions have also continued among lawmakers.

Two-term lawmaker Choi Hyung-du appeared on a KBS radio program on this day and stated, "Regarding the significance of May 18, the party's predecessor, the New Korea Party, made its stance clear at the time, leaving no room for controversy." However, regarding the Democratic Party of Korea's submission of a resolution urging the expulsion of Representative Lee, he diagnosed that "it seems to have become a test for leader Jang Dong-hyeok."

Six-term non-mainstream lawmaker Cho Kyoung-tae wrote on Facebook, "Representative Lee, who insulted the May spirit of Gwangju and blatantly trampled upon the party's platform, constitution, and rules, should naturally be expelled."

Previously, at a seminar held by Representative Lee at the National Assembly Library on the 13th, presentation content describing the May 18 Democratization Movement as an "uprising" sparked controversy and drew strong criticism from within the ruling bloc.

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