Jang Ye-chan "Kim Nam-gyeol Rejection, Rigged Go-Stop... Pro-Myeong Faction Inner Circle"

"Lee Jae-myung Must State His Position"
"Citizens Should Give 600 Million More Won in Taxes to Coin Billionaire Kim Nam-guk"

As the National Assembly Ethics Special Committee's expulsion proposal against Rep. Kim Nam-guk, who left the Democratic Party of Korea amid suspicions of multi-billion won cryptocurrency transactions, was rejected due to unanimous opposition from Democratic Party members, suspicions arose that "there might be instructions from Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader." In this context, Jang Ye-chan, the Youth Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, who is leading the suspicion, raised his voice, saying it is "Leader Lee's responsibility."

On the 31st, Jang, the Youth Supreme Council Member, said on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "If Leader Lee had not instructed to protect his closest aide, Rep. Kim, it would have been impossible for all three members to cast opposing votes despite such negative public opinion," expressing this view.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In the vote held the previous day at the Ethics Committee's 1st Subcommittee, the result was a tie of 3 to 3 in favor and opposition, leading to the rejection of Rep. Kim's expulsion proposal. All three Democratic Party members voted against it. However, Song Ki-heon, a Democratic Party member serving as the Ethics Committee secretary, stated, "I have not discussed this with the leadership."

Jang, the Youth Supreme Council Member, described it as a "rigged game in technical terms," adding, "I believe that Leader Lee and the so-called 7-member group including Rep. Kim, as well as the pro-Lee inner circle, strongly operated behind the scenes."

He continued, "There is nothing beneficial for the Democratic Party's general election to have Rep. Kim, who became an independent, serve as a member of the National Assembly for nine more months. If we look for a link between the Democratic Party and Rep. Kim, it is only that he is a close aide of Leader Lee," and said, "Leader Lee should clarify his position to the public on this matter. It is very cowardly to remain silent."

Within the Democratic Party, the reason for the rejection is sometimes attributed to Rep. Kim's decision not to run in the next general election. However, Jang, the Youth Supreme Council Member, said, "Then I want to ask if he intended to run in the general election after causing such a scandal," adding, "Whether he runs or not after being disciplined is Rep. Kim's decision, but why do lawmakers cast sympathy votes that are so out of touch with public opinion? I consider this a parliamentary privilege."

He added, "If Rep. Kim serves as a member of the National Assembly for nine more months, more than 600 million won of taxes will be spent on him," and said, "The public opinion that it is unacceptable to give 600 million won more in taxes to cryptocurrency-rich Rep. Kim Nam-guk with taxpayers' money will become a backlash whip that will strike the Democratic Party."