Geum Tae-seop "Disappointed in the Democratic Party... Kim Nam-guk Should Resign"

Regarding the recommendation for expulsion by the National Assembly Ethics Committee Advisory Board the day before concerning Representative Kim Nam-guk, who left the Democratic Party of Korea amid a major virtual asset controversy, former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who is preparing to establish a new party, expressed disappointment, saying, "I am really disappointed in the Democratic Party."

On the 21st, former Representative Geum said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show', "Given the seriousness of this issue, the Democratic Party should officially state its position and take action."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He pointed out, "The Democratic Party is the ruling party with nearly 180 seats when including allied forces. Given the gravity of this issue and the fact that the member even left the party, the party should show a firm stance. However, whenever incidents like the money envelope scandal or the Kim Nam-guk case arise, the Democratic Party just treats them as someone else's problem and looks the other way."

He criticized that the Democratic Party is dismissing matters that require party-level response as 'personal issues.' He said, "Not long ago, I discussed this with a Democratic Party lawmaker on a broadcast, and they said that Kim Nam-guk should make a decision and resign from the National Assembly seat." He added, "They are leaving it up to the individual."

He continued, "Many media outlets are now wondering whether the Democratic Party will vote in favor or against the expulsion resolution recommended by the Ethics Committee. But a proper political party should take preemptive measures," adding, "They should say, 'This is how we think this issue should be handled, and this is what we will do,' so that it is predictable. Just rushing into a vote and having it rejected is not a responsible attitude."

Regarding the Democratic Party's decision to make waiving parliamentary immunity a party stance only under the condition of a 'proper warrant request,' former Representative Geum also criticized, "They say they will not exercise parliamentary immunity if there is a proper warrant request. But whether it is proper or not, we will decide. It is hard to understand whether this is a serious statement or a joke," adding, "The Democratic Party has talked the most about waiving parliamentary immunity, but it is also the party that has exercised it the most."

He added, "When I meet Democratic Party lawmakers, they talk about how important parliamentary immunity is. But what we ask the Democratic Party is not whether parliamentary immunity is necessary or not, but why their words and actions differ, why they give irrelevant answers, and why there is inconsistency between their speech and behavior."