More Than Half of Special Committee Members Support Expulsion of 9 Members
Final Decision to Be Made at Early September Extraordinary Session
The Daejeon City Council's Special Ethics Committee has decided on the highest level of disciplinary action, expulsion, against Councilor Song Hwalseop (Independent, Daedeok-gu 2), who is under police investigation on charges of sexual harassment.
On the morning of the 16th, the Ethics Committee discussed the level of disciplinary action for Councilor Song and held a vote between expulsion and a 30-day suspension from attendance. A majority of the nine committee members voted in favor of expulsion.
The expulsion of Councilor Song will be finalized by a secret ballot of the remaining 21 council members, excluding Song, at a plenary session scheduled for early September. If at least 14 members, which is two-thirds, vote in favor, Song will lose his seat as a councilor.
Lee Jungho, chairman of the Ethics Committee, stated, "Separate from the police investigation, I understand that the councilors made their judgment after reviewing Councilor Song's explanations and materials regarding his violation of the standards of conduct expected of a councilor."
Councilor Song was accused of multiple instances of physical contact, including touching the body of a woman who was working at an election campaign office in a building ahead of the general election in February.
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