The National Assembly Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee passed a resolution today (the 8th) led by the Democratic Party of Korea, urging People Power Party Representative Lee Jin-sook to recuse herself from speaking and voting amid a conflict of interest controversy surrounding her standing committee assignment.

The resolution defines the scope of recusal to include ▲ disciplinary actions, expulsion, accusations, and related investigations or trials against Representative Lee Jin-sook; ▲ actions involving her tenure as Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission; and ▲ forums and follow-up measures concerning the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement.

Democratic Party lawmaker Han Jun-ho, the ruling party's secretary, stated during his explanatory remarks, "She is a direct party to the case in which she was accused of perjury during a parliamentary audit." He added, "Voluntary recusal by the party concerned is not a measure restricting rights, but a minimum principle to uphold public trust in the fairness of parliamentary deliberations."

In response, Representative Lee Jin-sook countered, "I express deep regret over the Democratic Party emitting a stench like a skunk, just as they forced through the law distortion crime bill, the constitutional trial system, and the expansion of Supreme Court justices through the tyranny of the majority." She added, "Having numbers does not mean having justice, nor does it make it right."

Choi Hyung-doo, a lawmaker from the same party, also asked back, "Without even giving a chance to speak, they harassed her for two full years leading to impeachment, only to be dismissed by the Constitutional Court. Yet they have framed the issue with the exact same narrative. Please stop such unreasonable framing. What do you gain from doing this?"

During the meeting, Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Yeon-hee targeted Representative Lee Jin-sook's controversy over "denigrating the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement," stating, "A skunk has entered the hall of the people's will where the future of science and technology should be discussed, filling it with a foul odor." This remark sparked protests from People Power Party lawmakers, and shouting echoed through the room.

(Photo: Yonhap News)