This Summer, Is Namguk Kim's Political Career Over? ... The Only Former President to Expel a Member of the National Assembly, Youngsam Kim

National Assembly Ethics Advisory Committee Recommends Expulsion of Rep. Kim Nam-guk
Ethics Special Committee Reviews, Two-Thirds Approval at Plenary Session
If Democratic Party Shows Leniency, Disciplinary Proposal May Not Pass

The National Assembly's Special Ethics Committee and the Ethics Review Advisory Committee have recommended the highest level of disciplinary action, 'expulsion from the National Assembly,' against independent lawmaker Kim Nam-guk, who sparked controversy over virtual asset investments. Kim's political fate is expected to be decided before the regular session of the National Assembly in September. The only case of a sitting lawmaker being expelled was when former President Kim Young-sam was stripped of his seat in 1979 during his tenure as the leader of the New Democratic Party due to political oppression.

According to the National Assembly on the 21st, the advisory committee decided the day before to recommend expulsion of Kim Nam-guk, and the Special Ethics Committee will review the disciplinary proposal against Kim.

The Ethics Committee will deliberate the expulsion recommendation for Kim in the disciplinary review subcommittee and then make the final decision on the level of discipline in a plenary session. Disciplinary actions against lawmakers include four types: ▲ warning in a public meeting ▲ apology in a public meeting ▲ suspension of attendance for up to 30 days ▲ expulsion. Attention is focused on whether the committee will decide on expulsion as recommended by the advisory committee.

In the 21st National Assembly, disciplinary proposals for lawmakers Yoon Mi-hyang, Lee Sang-jik, and Park Deok-heum, who were recommended for expulsion by the advisory committee and submitted to the Ethics Committee subcommittee, are still pending. Even if expulsion is approved in the Ethics Committee plenary session, it must be finalized through a vote in the plenary session of the National Assembly. The quorum for passing an expulsion motion requires at least two-thirds of the total members present to vote in favor.

Earlier, Kim Nam-guk left the Democratic Party in May amid allegations of coin investment. Since the Democratic Party holds 169 seats, there is a high possibility of rejection if the party again shows 'leniency.' Since the disciplinary review system was established in the Ethics Committee in 1991, only one disciplinary proposal has been approved in the plenary session from the 13th to the 21st National Assembly.

Prospects for the National Assembly's handling of the expulsion motion against Kim Nam-guk are divided. Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, said on KBS Radio, "What kind of party is the Democratic Party?" and added, "To fiercely protect leader Lee Jae-myung, they must shield all members, so there is a practical issue with (Kim Nam-guk's expulsion or resignation). They only talk about expulsion, but it will fizzle out." However, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Young-bae emphasized, "We will undertake fundamental reforms starting now." He added, "Since there was a resolution in the party meeting to give up immunity from arrest, we will show the public a truly renewed image."

Kim Nam-guk was elected at the young age of 37 in the 2020 21st general election and was once considered a core member of the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction within the party. However, after allegations of virtual asset trading surfaced in May, the issue spread widely over two months. It was confirmed that he conducted coin transactions about 200 times, including during the personnel hearing for Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon and the November Itaewon disaster-related Judiciary Committee briefing last year, which rapidly worsened public opinion.

Meanwhile, the advisory committee plans to disclose the virtual asset holdings of lawmakers through the official gazette and other means. However, transaction details will be disclosed only after obtaining consent from the lawmakers holding virtual assets. Regarding the 'registration of virtual assets by lawmakers' following the amendment of the National Assembly Act, all 299 lawmakers submitted their holdings and transaction details to the advisory committee, and among them, 11 reported their assets, the advisory committee announced yesterday. A National Assembly official explained, "We decided to disclose the status of virtual asset ownership held from May 30, 2020 (the start of the 21st National Assembly) to May 31, 2023," adding, "Changes during this period will also be disclosed." For transaction details, consent procedures will be followed with the lawmakers holding virtual assets.

Among lawmakers holding virtual assets, some are known to have potential conflicts of interest, which is expected to cause further controversy. Yoo Jae-poong, chairman of the National Assembly Ethics Review Advisory Committee, told reporters yesterday, "It seems there are conflicts of interest," and added, "We will separately notify the Speaker of the National Assembly and political parties." Whether conflicts of interest exist will likely be judged internally by each party, followed by procedures such as substitution.