"Step Down": Calls Grow to Expel Lee Jin-suk, With Criticism Also Erupting Within People Power Party

[Anchor]

The Democratic Party has submitted a resolution calling for the expulsion of People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-suk. This came in response to anti-historical remarks made at a seminar on the May 18 Democratization Movement hosted by Representative Lee yesterday (the 13th), and criticism has continued to emerge from within the People Power Party itself, pointing out that unnecessary controversy was provoked.

Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the details.

[Reporter]

At a seminar hosted by People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-suk and others at the National Assembly Library yesterday, a presenter referred to the May 18 Democratization Movement as a "commotion," while statements and presentation papers denying responsibility for Chun Doo-hwan also came out in succession.

A deluge of criticism poured in, claiming that claims distorting and disparaging May 18 ran rampant, and even physical violence broke out among the audience at the seminar.

The Democratic Party defined the seminar as a "historical coup d'état" and submitted a resolution to the National Assembly today urging the expulsion of Representative Lee, the co-host.

It pressured the People Power Party not to dismiss the incident as an individual deviation, but to take responsible action.

[Han Byung-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader: Insulting under the guise of academic study and re-examination a civic uprising that protected democracy with blood and tears against state violence undermines historical truth...]

The People Power Party stated, "Our stance to inherit the spirit of democratization throughout modern history is firm," adding that measures such as referral for disciplinary action require internal discussion.

Regarding criticisms that the party may have known about it in advance and neglected it, the party offered the explanation that "there was no way to block an individual lawmaker's seminar."

[Choi Eun-suk / People Power Party Chief Deputy Spokesperson: The seminar being pushed through was an inappropriate act, and we hope it does not happen again...]

The person involved, Representative Lee Jin-suk, called a press conference today and strongly defended herself, calling it "the suppression of freedom of speech."

[Lee Jin-suk / People Power Party Lawmaker: When a gathering welcoming Kim Jong-un's visit to Seoul was held in Gwanghwamun in the middle of Seoul, did it receive as much criticism as yesterday's May 18 academic seminar? (Lawmaker, Chun Doo-hwan's conviction for murder with intent to commit insurrection has been finalized; what kind of discussion do you think is still necessary?) ......]

Among People Power Party lawmakers regarding Representative Lee, there were many dissatisfied reactions, such as: "Denying the May 18 spirit is an act that undermines the party's values and must be strongly rebuked," "It is a matter that has been settled historically and legally, yet it caused unnecessary turmoil," and "At a time when the ruling camp is continuing to make missteps regarding real estate and supplementary investigation powers, it only dispersed our struggle capacity against the ruling party."

(Camera Reporter: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editor: Lee Seung-hee | Designer: Han Heung-soo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.