The Democratic Party Submits Resolution to Expel Choi Min-hee for "Insulting and Abusive Remarks Against North Korean Defectors"

108 National Assembly Members All Sign
North Korean Defector Park Chung-kwon Described as "Living in a Totalitarian State"
Lee Jin-sook Called "Brain Structure Abnormality"

The People Power Party submitted a resolution to the National Assembly on the 2nd calling for the expulsion of Choi Min-hee, chairperson of the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Communications Committee from the Democratic Party, who made remarks about lawmaker Park Chung-kwon, a North Korean defector, saying he had a "totalitarian state lifestyle," and told Lee Jin-sook, chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, that her "brain structure is abnormal."

The resolution, led by Bae Jun-young, the senior deputy floor leader of the People Power Party, and signed by all 108 ruling party lawmakers, was submitted to the National Assembly on the 2nd. The People Power Party argued that Choi’s recent remarks toward Park and Lee damaged the dignity expected of a member of the National Assembly.

The People Power Party stated, "She uttered outrageous remarks that insulted and damaged the honor, dignity, and pursuit of happiness of her fellow lawmakers and 34,000 North Korean defectors. Even afterward, she did not show remorse and spoke of extralegal deletion of meeting minutes," adding, "During the confirmation hearing for the Communications Commission chairperson candidate, she repeatedly threatened the candidate and made abusive remarks that insulted their character."

They also added, "She abused her authority by forcing the candidate to apologize, infringed on the candidate’s freedom of conscience, and failed to faithfully perform her duties to maintain order."

Chairperson Choi Min-hee of the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee is striking the gavel at the 5th plenary session of the committee held at the National Assembly on the 25th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

At the full meeting of the Science, Technology, Information and Communications Committee on the 29th of last month, Choi said that lawmaker Park claimed MBC was the Democratic Party’s Red Guards and that the confirmation hearing for the Communications Commission chairperson led by the Democratic Party was a people's trial. In response, Choi said, "Having lived in a totalitarian state, don’t you see democratic principles?" However, when the controversy over her remarks grew, Choi apologized to Park during the meeting.

Earlier, during the confirmation hearing for Chairperson Lee on the 26th of last month, Choi said, "Lee’s brain structure is abnormal," and when Lee demanded an apology, Choi refused.