'Coin Allegations' Kim Nam-guk Changes Standing Committee… From Judiciary Committee to Education Committee

The standing committee affiliation of Representative Kim Nam-guk, who left the Democratic Party of Korea amid allegations of virtual asset (coin) speculation, has changed from the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee to the Education Committee.

Independent lawmaker Kim Nam-guk is leaving his office at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 31st of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the list of members of the National Assembly Education Committee on the 3rd, Representative Kim's name is included. The adjustment of standing committees for members who are not part of a negotiation group is the authority of the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Representative Kim has been subject to opinions that his activities in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee are inappropriate due to a 'conflict of interest' controversy. This is because he co-sponsored a bill to defer taxation on virtual assets while holding a large amount of coins.

Earlier, the Democratic Party, anticipating the possibility of Representative Kim's resignation, requested the Speaker's office on the 28th of last month to remove Representative Kwon In-sook from the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and appoint Representatives So Byung-chul and Park Yong-jin instead.

Park Kwang-on, the floor leader, also said on the 22nd of last month regarding Representative Kim's resignation from the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, "Since he is not a member of a negotiation group, I believe the Speaker will make an appropriate decision."

Following Representative Kim's move to the Education Committee, the ruling party raised their voices, saying he "lacks the qualifications to be an education committee member."

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, criticized at a Central Youth Committee inauguration ceremony held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the same day, saying, "It is getting worse and worse. What does the Democratic Party and the Speaker of the National Assembly think assigning him to the Education Committee to teach our youth and the people?" He added, "Representative Kim should resign from the National Assembly immediately, and the Democratic Party should promptly cooperate with the expulsion procedures in the National Assembly."