[On-site Video] "Proper Punishment Needed" vs "Well Done" Opposition Party's Controversy Over Lawmaker's Land Speculation Allegations and Disciplinary Actions

[Asia Economy Reporters Seunggon Han, PD Jingeun Yoon] "Punishment should be severe," "I think it is fair."

On the 24th, the People Power Party took disciplinary actions of 'resignation request' and 'expulsion' against 6 out of 12 party lawmakers whom the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) pointed out as having illegal suspicions related to real estate.

Earlier, right after entrusting the ACRC with a full survey of People Power Party lawmakers, Leader Lee said on June 6, "We will take measures at least stricter than the Democratic Party's standards and meet the public's expectations." However, with the resignation requests and expulsion actions, there are criticisms that Leader Lee's remarks were just empty promises.

For the 5 lawmakers who received resignation requests, it is up to them to resign voluntarily. To force resignation, the People Power Party must impose a 'resignation recommendation' disciplinary action according to party rules, but currently, the party's Ethics Committee is not formed, so disciplinary action itself cannot be taken.

When asked, "What will you do if they refuse to resign?" Leader Lee stated, "We will form the Ethics Committee soon." If lawmakers disobey the party Ethics Committee's resignation recommendation, they will be forcibly expelled.

Citizens showed various reactions to the People Power Party's actions. Citizen A (78), met at Seoul Station Plaza on the 25th, said, "I don't understand why Leader Lee Jun-seok is being criticized so much," adding, "I know that those who need to explain will be given time, and those who need to be disciplined will be disciplined. Isn't that quite fair?"

Citizen B (21) emphasized, "I think they should either completely expel them or impose heavier disciplinary actions to meet the public's expectations." Then added, "It's the same. The disciplinary measures are almost similar to those of the Democratic Party..."

Company employee C in his 30s said, "If the real estate speculation suspicions are true, I think it is most important that such lawmakers do not have a foothold." He added, "In the end, it seems that each party has no choice but to leave the disciplinary actions to the party members or policy managers."

Meanwhile, on the 24th, Leader Lee demanded that the Democratic Party disclose the full results of the real estate transaction survey notified by the ACRC as they are.

In a post on his Facebook that day, Leader Lee criticized, "The public needs to verify whether the standards applied by the ACRC to the Democratic Party, the People Power Party, and lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom were fair."

Leader Lee pointed out, "Looking at the allegations raised by the ACRC against People Power Party lawmakers, many did not even meet the elements of real estate speculation or related misconduct." He emphasized, "We disclosed the ACRC notification results, obtained with the consent of the parties involved, to the public exactly as they were."

Earlier, in June, the Democratic Party disclosed the list of 12 members suspected of violating real estate-related laws pointed out by the ACRC but kept the detailed documents confidential.