"Respecting the Disciplinary Decision on Choi Kang-wook" Emergency Committee Supports Ethics Committee's Decision

The Right to File for Retrial Is Natural
Fundamental Position
Embers Remain, Including the Dissolution of Cheoreomhwe

Woo Sang-ho, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Woo Sang-ho, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 22nd regarding the six-month suspension of party membership imposed on Representative Choi Kang-wook by the party's Ethics Tribunal, "I believe the decision of the party's Ethics Tribunal should be respected." He also urged members to refrain from actions that expose conflicts within the party over this issue.

Chairman Woo stated at the Democratic Party Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "Although I have personal feelings, I think the decision of the Ethics Tribunal should be respected." He had previously told reporters the day before that the disciplinary action against Representative Choi was "(personally) somewhat harsh," but emphasized that the Ethics Tribunal's decision could not be changed. Woo stressed, "The Emergency Response Committee will respect the Ethics Tribunal's decision," adding, "It would not be desirable for the public to see party members quarreling and causing discord over this issue."

Regarding some members who expressed personal opinions on Representative Choi's disciplinary action, he said, "While individuals may have different judgments on matters decided according to party rules and regulations, I urge restraint against publicly exposing these differences and causing clashes among supporters." On the previous day (the 21st), some members, including Jeong Cheong-rae and Ahn Min-seok, posted messages on social media defending Representative Choi.

Kim Hoe-jae, a member of the Central Party Ethics Tribunal, also told reporters during a back briefing that "filing for a retrial is a routine right of those disciplined, and that right should be respected," but when asked about the possibility of the outcome being overturned through a retrial, he was cautious, saying, "That is something we can only know after the retrial."

Earlier, it was reported that on the 2nd of last month, during an online meeting with Democratic Party members of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Representative Choi made sexually harassing remarks toward Representative Kim Nam-guk in the presence of female party staff. The party's Ethics Committee unanimously confirmed a six-month suspension of party membership for this incident. Representative Choi has expressed his intention to request a retrial.

Meanwhile, inside and outside the Democratic Party, momentum is growing for reform targeting the 'Cheoreomhoe,' a hardline group of first-term lawmakers to which Representative Choi belongs, following his disciplinary action. The call for the dissolution of 'Cheoreomhoe' was initiated by former Emergency Response Committee Chair Park Ji-hyun. Park, who resigned from her position taking responsibility for the local election defeat, stated on social media after the disciplinary announcement, "Cheoreomhoe should acknowledge its responsibility for ruining the party and elections by relying on a hardline fandom and disband." As lawmakers affiliated with the Lee Nak-yeon and Chung Sye-kyun factions have proactively decided to disband their respective groups, demands for the dissolution of Cheoreomhoe are increasing.

Choi Kang-wook, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, is attending the second trial held at the Seoul High Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 22nd. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

However, opinions differ among lawmakers regarding the dissolution of the group. A first-term Democratic Party lawmaker said, "It is clear that lawmakers' groups, including 'Cheoreomhoe,' tend to lose their value and legitimacy and become distorted into interest groups," adding, "Many lawmakers are considering leaving all groups they belong to, including Telegram chat rooms." On the other hand, another Democratic Party second-term lawmaker said, "'Cheoreomhoe' is the only organization in South Korea that checks prosecutorial power," and added, "The 'dissolution' itself is meaningless because even if it disbands, another group under a different name can emerge."