Following Geum Tae-seop, Kang Min-jung also... 'Scolded' over Party Members' Criticism

Kang Min-jung Votes Against 3rd Supplementary Budget Citing Insufficient Education Funding
Party Members Criticize and Demand Resignation, She Finally Bows Her Head
Conflicts Between Lawmakers and Party Members Continue Within Ruling Coalition
Geum Tae-seop Disciplined for Violating Party Policy
Concerns Raised Over Internal Party Democracy Suppression

Kang Min-jung, Open Democratic Party member / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] Kang Minjung, a member of the Open Democratic Party who faced fierce criticism from party members after voting against the passage of the 3rd supplementary budget bill, bowed her head and apologized on the 6th, saying, "I will approach this with a more cautious attitude."

At the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Rep. Kang said, "I spent the past weekend with a very heavy heart. I think our party members must have been going through an even heavier time than I was," adding, "I would like to take this opportunity to apologize once again for causing concern to our party members and supporters."

She continued, "I should have fully considered what impact and meaning my voting behavior would have on the party and its members before making my decision," and added, "In that regard, I was lacking, and from now on, I will fully consider the will of the party and its members in any legislative activities."

Earlier, on the 3rd, the National Assembly held a plenary session and passed the 3rd supplementary budget bill with 180 votes in favor, 1 against, and 6 abstentions out of 187 members present. The United Future Party, which declared a boycott of the session, did not participate in the vote, and Rep. Kang was the only member from the ruling coalition to cast a dissenting vote.

A former teacher, Rep. Kang had previously explained her reason for voting against the bill on her Facebook, stating, "The finalized education budget was very insufficient given the basic nature of the COVID-19 supplementary budget." However, after continued criticism from Open Democratic Party members and calls for her resignation from some quarters, she publicly apologized.

Former Democratic Party lawmaker Geum Tae-seop is attending the party Ethics Committee rehearing held at the Yeouido party headquarters on the afternoon of the 29th of last month. / Photo by Yonhap News

This is not the first time that conflicts have arisen between lawmakers and party members within the ruling coalition.

Previously, former Democratic Party lawmaker Geum Tae-seop faced criticism from party members after abstaining from voting on the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HOCI) bill at the National Assembly plenary session in December last year. Some Democratic Party rights-holding members submitted a petition for his expulsion in February, accusing him of violating the party line.

Amid mounting criticism, the Democratic Party Ethics Committee, at a meeting in May, issued the lowest level of disciplinary action, a "warning," against Geum based on Article 14 of Party Regulation No. 7, citing "violation of the party line."

Some have criticized that disciplining lawmakers for voting according to their conscience on the grounds of party line undermines intra-party democracy.

Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon wrote on Facebook on the 2nd of last month, "The Democratic Party is a so-called 'democratic centralism,' the only decision-making system known to activists," and argued, "They think it is natural to punish lawmakers who voice opinions different from the party."

He also pointed out, "Even 130 rubber-stampers are already excessive, so having 50 more, is there really a need to operate with 180 members?"