Lee Jun-seok "Choi Min-hee's Expulsion Push, Lee Jin-sook Retaliation... Politics Should Be Magnanimous"

"No Reason to Go This Far After Apology," Claim

Assemblyman Lee Jun-seok. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On the 30th, Lee Jun-seok, a member of the Reform New Party, voiced criticism regarding the Democratic Party of Korea's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee Chairperson Choi Min-hee's push for a resolution to expel Park Chung-kwon, a member of the ruling People Power Party and a defector from North Korea, whom she labeled as being from a 'totalitarian state.' Lee suggested that this might be retaliation for the committee's failure to adopt the personnel hearing report on nominee Lee Jin-sook for the Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairperson.

On the 30th, Lee posted on his social media, "As someone who was present at yesterday's committee meeting, it is true that Chairperson Choi made somewhat inappropriate remarks about Representative Park, who is a North Korean defector."

He added that Chairperson Choi immediately recognized her inappropriate comments and personally apologized to Representative Park. Representative Park accepted the apology on the spot, allowing the meeting to proceed smoothly. Lee stated, "The swift apology from Chairperson Choi and Representative Park's acceptance of it was admirable," and added, "I hope we all approach politics with a broader perspective."

He further argued, "In this situation, submitting not just a simple disciplinary request but a resolution to expel seems like a retaliatory act against our committee's decision not to adopt and to withhold the report on nominee Lee Jin-sook for the Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairperson," and said, "There is no reason to escalate the matter after the apology."

Meanwhile, on the same day, Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, expressed his intention at a party meeting to push for a resolution to expel Chairperson Choi from her parliamentary position, which was approved by the members. The People Power Party is expected to submit the expulsion resolution as early as the 31st.