"Lee Seongsang Bribery..." Ruling Party, Conversation Exposure... Political Sphere 'Mic Message' Meaning

Unaware Mic Was On... "If Indicted, Disciplinary Action Must Be Reconsidered"
Yoo Sang-beom's Office: "Not Meant to Suggest Additional Disciplinary Possibility"

First-term members of the People Power Party are discussing current issues, including how to organize the party leadership during Lee Jun-seok's six-month suspension of party membership rights, at a meeting of first-term lawmakers held on the morning of the 11th at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] Members of the People Power Party were caught on a broadcaster’s camera discussing the disciplinary action against Representative Lee Jun-seok, unaware that their microphones were on. They broadly discussed key issues surrounding the representative, mentioning terms such as 'party convention,' 'party constitution and regulations,' and 'acting duties.' However, after the incident became public through the media, they drew a line by stating these were personal opinions. Some view this as a form of media response, noting that this is not the first such case.

The video released by MBC on the 12th showed lawmakers Yoo Sang-beom, Choi Hyung-doo, Park Dae-soo, and Lee Jong-sung gathered around a microphone discussing the disciplinary action by the Ethics Committee against Representative Lee.

When Representative Choi started by saying, "Among the senior members, there is an interpretation that 'let’s hold a party convention' depending on their own interests," Representative Yoo responded, "That’s not something we should be discussing." When Choi asked, "How would it be interpreted if done according to the party constitution and regulations?" Yoo replied, "It just goes to acting duties."

Choi then asked again, "Until when is the acting duty expected to last? Up to six months?" Yoo answered, "No, if an indictment comes out during that period, the disciplinary action must be reconsidered," adding, "What if the investigation results confirm 'there was sexual bribery'?" To this, Choi said, "We should also consider the case where that is not true," and Yoo responded, "We have to consider that too, but based on what has been leaked so far," seemingly leaving open the possibility that the sexual bribery allegations against the representative might be acknowledged.

Choi asked, "(Regarding sexual bribery) there must be punishability. The statute of limitations must still be valid," and Yoo said, "That’s not important. They all lied. 'I didn’t (accept sexual bribery).' That’s more important."

Yoo also said, "There’s more. It could also go to an emergency response committee. If all the Supreme Council members resign shortly, it could change to an emergency committee," adding, "So we shouldn’t recklessly push things here (at the freshman meeting) and make mistakes."

At the moment when Park, sitting next to Yoo, said, "Let’s avoid talk about party conventions or early party conventions," Choi seemed to notice the microphone was on and turned it in the opposite direction. Their conversation, which lasted about 1 minute and 20 seconds, was captured on video by the broadcaster’s camera before they left the scene.

The office of Representative Yoo Sang-beom issued a statement after the conversation was made public and interpretations arose in the media suggesting mention of possible additional disciplinary action against the representative. They explained, "This was part of explaining the interpretation of the party constitution and regulations according to future investigation results to fellow lawmakers," and clarified, "It was not intended to mention the possibility of additional disciplinary action."

They also stated, "This was a pre-discussion among the operating committee members before the freshman general meeting started, and since it was already agreed with the media to be off the record, all reporters had left the room. Nevertheless, a certain media outlet filmed and reported the video against the agreement, which is a very serious breach of trust between lawmakers and journalists, and we express our deep regret."

Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is responding to a lawmaker's question at the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on September 21, 2020. [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ "It seems like they will catch many innocent people," "I have to handle things like government officials not listening well"

This is not the first time politicians have spoken without realizing their microphones were on. Previously, on September 21, 2020, former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae criticized an opposition lawmaker who was a former prosecutor during a National Assembly session, unaware that her microphone was on, sparking a verbal dispute with the People Power Party.

During a plenary session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee (LJC) at the National Assembly, after a recess was declared, former Minister of National Defense Seo Wook asked, "You must be very uncomfortable," to which former Minister Choo replied, "It’s absurd. That person did well to become a lawmaker instead of a prosecutor," adding, "It seems like they will catch many innocent people."

Their private conversation was broadcast live through the microphone. The then-opposition People Power Party interpreted the remarks as targeting lawmaker Kim Do-eup, a former prosecutor who was present at the LJC meeting, and immediately protested. At the time, Representative Yoo Sang-beom criticized Minister Choo’s remarks, saying, "What kind of behavior is it to say such things with the microphone on just because you don’t like the lawmaker asking questions?"

Former Democratic Party Floor Leader Lee In-young (right) and former Blue House Policy Chief Kim Soo-hyun (left) having a private conversation, unaware that the microphone was on [Image source=Yonhap News]

Even earlier, on May 10, 2019, controversy arose from remarks made without realizing the microphone was on. On that day, a meeting between the party, government, and Blue House was held to discuss livelihood measures, coinciding with the 6th anniversary of the Democratic Party’s 'Euljiro Committee' (Euljiro Livelihood Practice Committee). Former Democratic Party floor leader Lee In-young and former Blue House policy chief Kim Soo-hyun attended the meeting.

Before the meeting started, former floor leader Lee said, "I have to handle things like government officials not listening well," to which former policy chief Kim replied, "Please do that. Honestly, it feels more like the 4th anniversary than the 2nd anniversary for the government."

Lee then said, "Frankly, Minister Kim Hyun-mi (former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport), in that short month, they did a lot of strange things among themselves," and Kim added, "The current bus crisis is also because of that." Lee emphasized again, "If you give them a little chance, they do all sorts of odd things."

When the conversation was made public, reactions included comments like, "There is a strong sense of 'gapjil' (abuse of power) toward public officials." However, some believed the conversation was not politically motivated but rather a critique of bureaucratic inertia.