[Comprehensive] Jo Su-jin's 'Concubine Remark' Sparks Controversy... Ruling Party "Unprecedented, Will File Ethics Committee Complaint"

The Democratic Party to Submit Disciplinary Proposal for Rep. Cho to the National Assembly Ethics Committee on the 28th
Gominjeong: "I Do Not Intend to Endure... Complaint Filed"
Cho Sujin: "Regret Controversy Misunderstood from My Criticism"
Apologizes, Saying "It's Unfortunate to Become a Subject of Political Debate"

So Su-jin, Member of the People Power Party / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Jo Su-jin, a member of the People Power Party, who compared Go Min-jung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, to a 'Joseon Dynasty concubine,' is facing fierce criticism from the ruling party day after day. The Democratic Party has called for Jo's resignation and also filed a complaint against her with the National Assembly Ethics Special Committee.

Earlier, on the 26th, Jo wrote on Facebook, "Go Min-jung, whom the Moon Jae-in administration cherishes and loves, mocked Oh Se-hoon, former mayor of Seoul, who was her rival in last April's general election," adding, "It is utterly vulgar. Even a concubine in the Joseon Dynasty who bore a prince would not have been treated like this."

The ruling party immediately reacted against Jo's remarks.

Go herself posted on her Facebook on the afternoon of the 27th, saying, "At first, I was bewildered, then angry, then sad, and now I feel calm," adding, "Jo Su-jin is a member of the National Assembly of the main opposition party, wearing the People Power Party badge and receiving taxpayers' money. Some may say I should endure it, but I do not intend to."

Ko Min-jung, Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

She continued, "I have filed a complaint against Jo Su-jin," and warned of a strong response, saying, "I am also proceeding with a complaint regarding the false statement that she made about 'false academic credentials in election campaign materials,' and I am reviewing both criminal and civil actions."

The next day, on the 28th, the ruling party continued to strongly condemn Jo. Choi In-ho, senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party, criticized in a verbal statement, "Jo has repeatedly made unprecedented remarks that a member of the National Assembly should never make, and now she has made outrageous remarks that no one can follow."

He urged, "If the People Power Party judges that it is wrong, the least they can do is to take the common step of expelling her from the party."

On the same day, Kim Dong-min, a Supreme Council member of the same party, appeared on MBC radio and targeted Jo, saying, "She has completely crossed the line," and "This is a departure from political ethics that are responsible to the people, and it is something that cannot be done even as a personal human decency."

Kwon In-sook (center) and Park Sang-hyuk (left), members of the Democratic Party of Korea, submitted a disciplinary proposal against Cho Soo-jin of the People Power Party, who compared lawmaker Ko Min-jung to a "Joseon Dynasty concubine," to the National Assembly Secretariat in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 28th. / Photo by Yonhap News

On that day, the Democratic Party also filed a complaint against Jo with the National Assembly Ethics Committee. Democratic Party members Kwon In-sook and Park Sang-hyuk submitted a disciplinary proposal against Jo to the National Assembly Secretariat. This is the ninth disciplinary proposal submitted since the 21st National Assembly, and the second among People Power Party members, following Yoo Sang-beom.

As criticism from the ruling party grew over Jo's so-called 'concubine remarks,' Jo deleted the problematic post and apologized to Go.

In a Facebook post, Jo said, "I regret that my criticism caused controversy contrary to its original intent," and "I am sorry to Go as well."

She added, "It is unfortunate that my metaphorical expression in the critical post about candidates running in the upcoming April Seoul mayoral by-election, which is being held due to a 'power-related sexual scandal,' has become a subject of controversy as an insult or misogyny and a political debate."

She further said, "As a female lawmaker, regardless of party lines, and as someone advocating for the expansion of women's political participation, it pains me that a metaphorical expression has become a political controversy over misogyny."