[Lee Jun-seok Disciplinary Action] Lee Jun-seok '6-Month Party Membership Suspension'... Unprecedented Severe Punishment for Party Leader

Ethics Committee Ends 8-Hour Marathon Meeting with Disciplinary Decision
Ethics Chair: "Hard to Believe Lee's Explanation"
Lee's Closest Aide Kim Cheol-geun Suspended from Party Membership for 2 Years
Internal Turmoil Inevitable Amid Next Party Leadership Race

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] The Ethics Committee of the People Power Party imposed a severe disciplinary action of "6-month suspension of party membership rights" on Representative Lee Jun-seok on the 8th, who is suspected of "sexual bribery and instructing evidence destruction." As it becomes practically difficult for Lee to perform his duties, internal conflicts such as the next party leadership competition are expected to be inevitable.

On the same day, Ethics Committee Chairperson Lee Yang-hee met with reporters around 2:45 a.m. at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, after the meeting ended, and explained about Representative Lee, saying, "We resolved to suspend party membership rights for 6 months," and added, "The reason for the disciplinary action is based on Article 4, Clause 1 of the Ethics Rules, which states that 'members must maintain decorum and act appropriately according to their position, and must not damage the party's honor or act in a way that is out of touch with public sentiment.'"

The Ethics Committee, which started the meeting around 7 p.m. the previous day, made this disciplinary decision after about 8 hours. On this day, Kim Cheol-geun, the Chief of Staff for the Party Leader, and Representative Lee appeared in person to explain the related allegations. It was reported that Representative Lee claimed he was unaware that Chief of Staff Kim had met with the whistleblower Mr. Jang and drafted a certificate promising an investment worth about 700 million won.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ethics Committee judged that the credibility of Representative Lee's explanation was low after comprehensively reviewing the hierarchical relationship between the party leader and the chief of staff, the explanations and recorded statements of related parties, and various factual materials. However, the committee did not make a judgment on the sexual bribery allegations themselves. Chairperson Lee explained the disciplinary decision by saying, "This decision was made considering Representative Lee's contributions and merits to the party so far."

Due to the Ethics Committee's disciplinary action, it has become difficult for Representative Lee to perform his duties for six months, casting a red light on his continuation as party leader. The People Power Party is expected to experience intense internal strife for the time being as the next party leadership competition intensifies. Whether Representative Lee will request a retrial is also likely to be a significant variable.

Meanwhile, Chief of Staff Kim, who is suspected of attempting to destroy evidence, was given a 2-year suspension of party membership rights.