Female Council Member Defamation: Changwon City Councilor No Chang-seop 'Suspended from Attendance for 30 Days'

No Chang-seop, a council member of Changwon City, Gyeongnam, is bowing his head to apologize for making defamatory remarks against a fellow female council member.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Ju Cheol-in] The Justice Party lawmaker No Chang-seop, who received a summary order for a fine of 3 million won on charges of defaming a fellow female lawmaker, has been disciplined with a suspension from attendance and other penalties.

On the afternoon of the 28th, the Changwon City Council in Gyeongnam held the 2nd plenary session of the 104th extraordinary meeting and voted on the "Request for Disciplinary Action against Councilor No" which included a 30-day suspension from attendance and a public apology. It was announced on the 29th that this decision was made.

Among the 39 attending councilors, 20 voted in favor and 19 opposed. The approval barely exceeded the majority of attending councilors required for passage. Accordingly, Councilor No is prohibited from attending the council from the day the resolution was declared until June 26.

The public apology must be made at the plenary session held after the suspension period ends. The meeting regarding the disciplinary request was held in private in accordance with Article 93 of the City Council Meeting Rules, which states "Meetings concerning disciplinary actions shall not be open to the public."

The result of the disciplinary vote was announced in a public meeting in accordance with Article 95 of the Meeting Rules. Last year, Councilor No made remarks that could be perceived as sexual harassment toward a female Changwon City Council member from the Democratic Party while in the presence of a fellow Justice Party Changwon councilor.

The female councilor, having heard about the problematic remarks from another councilor, filed a defamation lawsuit against Councilor No. In February, Councilor No received a summary order for a fine of 3 million won from the Changwon District Court. Councilor No has appealed the summary order and requested a formal trial.

Meanwhile, due to this incident, Councilor No was removed from the position of vice-chairman in March after a vote of no confidence was passed in the city council.