National Assembly Passes Resolution Urging Expulsion of People Power Party's Lee Jin-sook Over May 18 Forum Controversy

A resolution urging the expulsion of People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-sook, who sparked controversy over distortions of the May 18 Democratization Movement, passed the National Assembly plenary session today (the 26th), led by the pan-ruling camp.

The resolution urging lawmaker Lee's expulsion was approved at the plenary session with 157 in favor, 1 vote against, and 1 abstention out of 159 lawmakers present.

The People Power Party had decided to walk out if the resolution was submitted to the plenary session during a general meeting held before the session, but lawmakers Cho Kyeong-tae, Kim Hyung-dong, Kim Ye-ji, Woo Jae-jun, and Han Ji-ah participated in the vote.

Lawmaker Han Ji-ah met with reporters after the vote and stated, "In my heart, I am in favor, but I abstained," adding, "However, I must say that the discussion hosted by lawmaker Lee was highly inappropriate and I strongly condemn it."

She continued, "As specified in our party's party constitution and rules, we urge the expulsion of lawmaker Lee."

The resolution contains contents stating that lawmaker Lee hosted a forum to re-examine the May 18 Democratization Movement with right-wing organizations at the National Assembly, thereby violating the obligation of lawmakers to maintain dignity and tarnishing the honor and authority of the National Assembly.

The forum, held at the National Assembly Library on the 13th, caused controversy as remarks were made claiming that the May 18 Democratization Movement was a ten-day disturbance that occurred in Gwangju in May 1980.

Lawmaker Chun Jun-ho of the Democratic Party, who representatively proposed the resolution, argued, "Lawmaker Lee turned the National Assembly, the temple of public opinion, into a stage of agitation denigrating the May 18 Democratization Movement and a chaotic arena for forces sympathizing with rebellion that destroy the constitutional order."

He then criticized that by mentioning freedom of academic research, lawmaker Lee overtly consolidated her intention to subvert the historical significance of the May 18 Democratization Movement, calling it a historical coup and an act of destroying the constitutional order.

Democratic Party Floor Leader Han Byung-do also emphasized at a general meeting right before the plenary session that it makes people even more furious and angry when she creates a platform to disparage May 18 and then talks about academic re-examination, stressing that the resolution would be passed today.

Lawmaker Lee did not participate in the vote on the resolution urging her own expulsion and walked out of the plenary session hall to tell reporters, "Something that effectively makes the impeachment of a lawmaker possible if one falls out of favor with the president and the majority party is happening in the Republic of Korea's National Assembly." She criticized, "Just as the Workers' Party of Korea exercises a one-party dictatorship, the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea has become a Democratic Party dictatorship."

She then raised her voice, saying, "When I held the May 18 discussion at the National Assembly, there were two things I wanted to talk about."

"Freedom of expression and the issue of people of national merit funded by taxes," she said, adding, "While they say they will put the May 18 spirit in the preamble of the Constitution, they say people don't need to know about May 18."

"Only the actions of you, the youth, can change the Republic of Korea into a free democratic Republic of Korea," she raised her voice.

This is the first time in constitutional history that a resolution urging the expulsion of a lawmaker has crossed the threshold of the plenary session.

However, a resolution urging the resignation of lawmaker Choi Yeon-hee, who left the Grand National Party in 2006 over a sexual harassment scandal, and an expulsion motion against leader Kim Young-sam of the New Democratic Party during the Yushin regime in 1979 had been voted on.

The resolution voted on at the plenary session today is of a political nature urging the expulsion of lawmaker Lee, and in order for actual disciplinary action to be taken against lawmaker Lee, a separate disciplinary motion must cross the threshold of the plenary session.

Lawmaker Chun Jun-ho representatively proposed a disciplinary motion against lawmaker Lee on the 21st, which must go through review by the Special Committee on Ethics in the National Assembly before being submitted and processed at a plenary session.

Under current law, the expulsion of a lawmaker requires the approval of two-thirds or more of the registered lawmakers.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.