Jinseongjun: "Kim Eunhye, who wrote 'You're kidding,' should be reported for parliamentary insult"

"Even if it was a casual remark, it is unacceptable"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Jin Seong-jun, the senior deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, argued on the 9th that Kim Eun-hye, the presidential office’s chief of public relations, and Kang Seung-gyu, the chief of civil society, who wrote the note saying “This is ridiculous” during the presidential office’s National Assembly audit, should be prosecuted for insulting the National Assembly.

Chief Kim caused controversy by writing “This is ridiculous” in a notebook during the National Assembly Steering Committee’s audit of the presidential office on the 8th. The note was captured by media cameras while Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Deuk-gu was questioning Chief Secretary Kim Dae-gi and National Security Office Director Kim Seong-han about the Itaewon Halloween disaster response. Chief Kim said, “I wrote it while talking with Chief Kang about a different matter.” Both Chief Kim and Chief Kang did not disclose the content, calling it a “private conversation,” and were asked to leave.

On the same day, Senior Deputy Floor Leader Jin appeared on CBS Radio’s “Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show” and said, “Even if the note was not meant as mockery or sarcasm toward lawmakers, it is absolutely unacceptable behavior for a witness who must attend the audit.”

Jin pointed out, “Regardless of the circumstances, when an auditor questions, the witness must listen carefully because they do not know who the question will be directed at. If the two witnesses sat side by side and exchanged the note saying ‘This is ridiculous’ while a lawmaker was questioning, it is shocking and makes one think it was directed at the lawmakers.”

Jin urged the presidential office to take disciplinary personnel actions against Chief Kim and Chief Kang. He said, “They should investigate what wrongdoing occurred and take appropriate measures accordingly.”