Eonju Lee "Even If You Twist a Chicken's Neck, Dawn Will Come" Opposes Ruling Party's Disciplinary Action

Hong Jun-pyo "Disciplinary action to silence is anti-democratic"
Kim Woong "Ethics Committee that also ousted Lee Jun-seok is famous"

The People Power Party's Central Ethics Committee resolved to issue a 'warning' disciplinary action against former lawmaker Lee Eon-ju for remarks such as 'total election failure,' sparking criticism from some within the ruling party who called it anti-democratic. Former lawmaker Lee also responded to the Ethics Committee's decision with a message saying, "Even if you twist a chicken's neck, dawn will come."

In a recent radio interview, Lee stated, "If things continue like this, the general election will become even more difficult. It will be almost a 'total failure' (completely ruined)," and "It seems to send a message that if you curry favor with the president, you become a minister."

Former lawmaker Eonju Lee. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

The Ethics Committee judged that Lee's remarks fell under the disciplinary grounds specified in Article 20 of the Ethics Committee regulations. Article 20 stipulates disciplinary reasons such as engaging in acts extremely harmful to the party, violating current laws and the party's constitution, rules, and ethics regulations causing obstacles to party development or resulting in alienation of public sentiment, disobeying the party name without just cause, failing to fulfill duties as a party member, or damaging the party's dignity.

However, some within the ruling party criticized the disciplinary action against Lee as excessive. On the 26th, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Woong said in an interview on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs,' "For politicians, words are tools and weapons," adding, "Telling politicians not to speak is the same as telling them not to engage in politics."

Kim continued, "In the case of Representative Lee Jun-seok, wasn't he expelled just because he was accused?" and "I have never seen such a partisan and biased Ethics Committee. For example, in the case of others who have already been indicted and whose guilt or innocence is clear, such as Supreme Council members, there has been not a single word."

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo also responded on his online communication platform 'Youth's Dream' corner to a question saying, "I heard that Lee Eon-ju was disciplined for making sincere remarks on a broadcast," by stating, "Disciplinary actions used to silence internal voices are anti-democratic."