"Reveal the Reason for Expulsion of Deominju's Jeong Jin-sul, Seoul City Council Member"

The People Power Party in the Seoul Metropolitan Council has called for a thorough investigation into the expulsion of former Democratic Party floor leader Jeong Jin-sul.

Ok Jae-eun, spokesperson for the People Power Party in the Seoul Metropolitan Council (photo), stated on the 12th, "The Democratic Party and Assemblyman Jeong Jin-sul must sincerely respond to the questions of Seoul citizens."

In a briefing that day, Spokesperson Ok said, "On the 3rd, the Democratic Party Seoul City Chapter abruptly expelled Assemblyman Jeong Jin-sul, who was serving as the Democratic Party floor leader in the Seoul Metropolitan Council. The very next day, Jeong Jin-sul resigned from his floor leader position citing health reasons. Although reports have followed claiming that the reason for Jeong’s expulsion was due to ‘serious sexual misconduct,’ the Democratic Party, which made the expulsion decision, has not disclosed the facts, and the expelled party is hiding the truth under the pretext of health issues," criticizing the situation.

He added, "Presumably, before deciding to expel the floor leader in the Seoul Metropolitan Council, the Democratic Party must have sufficiently verified the facts and conducted legal reviews regarding the allegations against Assemblyman Jeong Jin-sul, and judged that the expulsion decision was justified. According to the Local Autonomy Act, if a local council member violates the Local Autonomy Act or local regulations, disciplinary action must be taken after review by the Ethics Special Committee. The types of discipline include ▲warning in a public meeting ▲apology in a public meeting ▲suspension of attendance for up to 30 days ▲expulsion," he explained.

Spokesperson Ok emphasized, "Seoul council members have the duty, as representatives of ten million Seoul citizens, to perform their duties faithfully according to their conscience and to maintain their dignity, as mandated by the Local Autonomy Act. If the matter is serious enough to warrant expulsion by the party, then Assemblyman Jeong Jin-sul’s misconduct is no longer a personal issue, and it is even less something that can be swept under the rug by internal disciplinary measures within the Democratic Party."

He continued, "It is a grave matter that requires asking the will of Seoul citizens whether Assemblyman Jeong Jin-sul is qualified to represent ten million Seoul citizens, whether it is appropriate for him to exercise his authority, and what kind of disciplinary action would be proper if he has tarnished the honor of Seoul and its citizens. The continuous occurrence of sexual misconduct and gender violence within the Democratic Party, regardless of the rank or status of its members, is due to the party’s tendency to conceal the truth and be passive in punishing offenders based solely on political advantage," he said.

Finally, he requested, "Therefore, the People Power Party in the Seoul Metropolitan Council publicly demands that the Democratic Party and Assemblyman Jeong Jin-sul clearly disclose the reasons and details of the misconduct that led to his expulsion to the Seoul Metropolitan Council and humbly submit to the judgment of Seoul citizens."