'Itawon Makmal' Kim Mina, Thanks to Covering for Her Own...

Criticism of Kim Mina's Retention of Assembly Seat... "Disciplinary Action Too Lenient"
"Some Say Disciplinary Action Raised Nationwide Recognition"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Criticism is rising as the expulsion motion against Kim Mina, a member of Changwon City Council in Gyeongnam, who made abusive remarks toward the victims and bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster, was rejected.

Earlier, the Changwon City Council, considering the recommendation from civilian experts (Ethics Review Advisory Committee) that expulsion, the highest level of disciplinary action, was appropriate for Councilor Kim, submitted the expulsion motion to the 2nd plenary session of the 121st extraordinary meeting on the 18th after going through the Ethics Special Committee.

In the plenary session, the Gyeongnam Changwon City Council approved a disciplinary measure to suspend Councilor Kim’s attendance for 30 days. However, as the expulsion motion was rejected that day, Councilor Kim was able to retain her council seat.

Last month, Councilor Kim caused controversy by posting abusive remarks on her social media (SNS) targeting the bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster victims, calling them "corpse-selling tribes," "selling their children," and "whining."

The 10·29 Itaewon Disaster Gyeongnam Countermeasures Committee (Countermeasures Committee) criticized the disciplinary level being lower than the recommendation. On that day, the committee issued a statement saying, "The failure of the expulsion disciplinary action is a third-level harm to the bereaved families and citizens." They added, "If she is not expelled, we will even undertake a signature campaign," urging the passage of the expulsion motion in the plenary session, saying, "The city council must expel her from public office to prevent a second Kim Mina."

Kim Mina, a member of the Changwon City Council in Gyeongnam from the People Power Party, is making an official apology statement at the 2nd plenary session of the 120th City Council held on the afternoon of the 13th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Criticism also came from the local political circles. On the 19th, the Justice Party Gyeongnam Provincial Party issued a statement saying, "Although there was a recommendation that 'expulsion is appropriate,' the People Power Party members of Changwon City Council systematically rejected it," and "We condemn the People Power Party, who are busy protecting their own members in a clique, driving a nail into the hearts of the people."

The Democratic Party members of Changwon City Council also held a press conference, protesting "the outrage of the council members who overturned the Ethics Review Advisory Committee’s expulsion disciplinary recommendation by the power of the majority," and criticized, "The People Power Party members’ organized ‘reckless clique politics’ is something that heaven will be angry about."

As the controversy grew, the People Power Party members of Changwon City Council issued a press release saying, "We deeply apologize to the citizens and bereaved families and will accompany them for the happiness of the citizens." They said, "Taking this opportunity, we promise to devote ourselves to legislative activities for the development of our city and region," and "We bow our heads in apology for causing concern to the citizens and bereaved families who have suffered great emotional wounds."

However, there is also an evaluation that Councilor Kim gained recognition through this abusive remarks controversy. It means that a politician’s political career does not end just because they receive disciplinary action.

A representative case is former Chungbuk Provincial Councilor Kim Hak-cheol of the People Power Party. In the summer of 2017, while Chungbuk suffered unprecedented flood damage, he went on a European study tour and was criticized. Especially, criticism intensified when Councilor Kim compared the people to lemmings in an interview with the media.

As a result, former Councilor Kim was expelled but was reinstated last December, 4 years and 7 months later. Despite criticism over the European study tour and the lemming remarks, he gained nationwide recognition and strong support from his loyal base.