"I've Never Seen Lawmakers Disciplined for Their Convictions"
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Former Democratic Party lawmaker Geum Tae-seop was disciplined (warned) for violating the party line, and Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon criticized this as an "inappropriate measure."
On the 2nd, Cho appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "I don't think I've ever seen a lawmaker disciplined for making a decision based on their own conviction in the plenary session."
He continued, "The National Assembly Act includes a clause on free voting, stating that lawmakers, as representatives of the people, are not bound by their party's will and vote according to their conscience," adding, "This means lawmakers should take political responsibility for their votes."
Cho also pointed out, "Former lawmaker Geum bore the enormous responsibility of losing in the primary election for the general election, which is called 'nakcheon' (being dropped as a candidate). How else could he take responsibility? How else could he be punished more? Yet, they still (disciplined him)," he said.
He added, "Since the party constitution is a highly cohesive system, it might be applicable within that context, but from the perspective of the spirit of the National Assembly Act, it seems inappropriate."
Former Democratic Party lawmaker Geum Tae-seop is questioning then-Minister of Justice nominee Chu Mi-ae at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee hearing held at the National Assembly on the afternoon of December 30 last year. / Photo by Yonhap News
The Democratic Party Ethics Committee held a meeting on the 25th of last month and issued a 'warning' to former lawmaker Geum. This decision was made after some party members submitted a disciplinary request against Geum in February last year.
In the Ethics Committee's ruling, it was stated, "Support for the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HOCI) bill was the party line," and "Since it is true that former lawmaker Geum abstained from voting citing his conviction, he is disciplined as a 'violation of the party line' according to Party Regulation Article 7, Clause 14."
Previously, former lawmaker Geum abstained from voting on the HOCI bill in December last year. Subsequently, he lost in the primary election for his constituency, Seoul Gangseo-gap, ahead of the 21st general election.
Meanwhile, Geum plans to file an appeal against the Ethics Committee's decision as early as the 2nd.
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