Three-term Opposition Lawmakers Oppose 'Party Charter Article 80 Amendment'... "Current Discussions Are Inappropriate"

Emergency Meeting Held with 7 Three-Term Members
"Leave It As Is" Common Opinion Gathered

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] After the Democratic Party's National Convention Preparation Committee approved the amendment of Article 80 of the party constitution, some three-term lawmakers within the party raised objections.

All three-term lawmakers of the Democratic Party held an emergency meeting on the 16th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. Due to the notice being given only an hour prior, 7 out of the 24 three-term lawmakers attended the meeting.

Lawmaker Lee Won-wook, speaking to the press after the meeting, said, "The common opinion among the seven was that the timing of this discussion was inappropriate," adding, "One person suggested that some amendments might be necessary, while the other four preferred to keep the current state unchanged and not to interfere."

Lawmaker Han Jeong-ae plans to gather the opinions of the remaining three-term lawmakers and convey them to the emergency countermeasure committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

Earlier that morning, the National Convention Preparation Committee approved amendments to Article 80 of the party constitution, which includes disciplinary measures against party officials involved in corruption. The suspension condition in Article 80, Clause 1, was relaxed from "upon indictment" to "upon receiving a prison sentence or higher in a lower court." Additionally, if it is recognized that there are unjust reasons such as political oppression, the disciplinary action can be canceled or suspended through a resolution of the Supreme Council.