Namguk Kim "Questioning Fair Criteria for Expulsion Recommendation" (Comprehensive)

National Assembly Ethics Advisory Committee Recommends Expulsion of Rep. Kim Nam-guk
Ethics Special Committee Reviews, Two-Thirds Approval in Plenary Session
If Democratic Party Shows Leniency, Disciplinary Bill 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 National Assembly session in September. The only case of a sitting lawmaker being expelled was former President Kim Young-sam, who was stripped of his seat in 1979 during his tenure as the leader of the New Democratic Party due to political oppression. On the 21st, Kim expressed regret over the advisory committee's recommendation for expulsion.

On the morning of the same day, Kim posted on his Facebook, "I express regret over the advisory committee's recommendation for expulsion yesterday (the 20th)." He added, "I question whether objective and fair standards were applied equitably," and said, "I will actively participate in the remaining procedures of the Special Ethics Committee."

However, Kim also said, "I sincerely apologize for causing concern to the public due to the controversy over cryptocurrency trading," and "I want to first offer my deepest apologies with a bowed head." He continued, "I will provide more thorough explanations and more faithfully clarify the situation," and "Once again, I sincerely apologize to the public."

According to the National Assembly, after the advisory committee decided the day before to recommend expulsion of Kim, the Special Ethics Committee will review the disciplinary proposal against him.

The Ethics Committee will deliberate the expulsion recommendation in a disciplinary review subcommittee and then finalize the disciplinary level in a plenary session. Disciplinary actions against lawmakers include ▲ 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 received expulsion recommendations from the advisory committee and were 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 full assembly. The quorum for expulsion requires at least two-thirds of the total members present to approve.

Earlier, Kim 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 Kim's expulsion proposal are mixed. Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, said on KBS Radio, "What kind of party is the Democratic Party? 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 likely 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 truly show a renewed image from the public's perspective."

Kim 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 rapidly 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 last year and the November report on the Itaewon disaster in the same year, which rapidly worsened public opinion.

Meanwhile, the advisory committee plans to disclose the virtual asset holdings of lawmakers through official gazettes 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 11 of them reported holdings, the advisory committee announced the day before. A National Assembly official explained, "We decided to disclose the status of virtual assets held from May 30, 2020 (the start of the 21st National Assembly's temporary session) to May 31, 2023," adding, "Changes during this period will also be disclosed." Consent procedures will be followed for transaction details disclosure.

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 the day before, "It seems there are conflicts of interest," and "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 substitution procedures.