A Expelled, B's Party Membership Suspended for One Year
Case Investigated Through External Law Firm
It has been confirmed that two key officials of the Party for National Innovation, identified as perpetrators in a sexual misconduct case, received severe disciplinary actions on the 25th: one was expelled from the party and the other was suspended from party membership for one year.
Sohn Min Kim, Acting Party Leader of the Party for National Innovation (center), is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News
According to a party official on the 26th, the party leadership finalized the level of disciplinary action at a closed Supreme Council meeting held the previous afternoon. Previously, the party's Ethics Committee reportedly discussed the disciplinary measures for the two individuals through two rounds of deliberation.
Senior officials A and B of the Party for National Innovation were each accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault against a subordinate and a party associate, respectively. The incidents came to light in April when the victims reported the cases to the party's Women's Committee and other relevant bodies.
Subsequently, official A was removed from their duties, while official B submitted a resignation letter, which was rejected for the purpose of investigation, and is currently on unpaid leave.
According to the party's regulations, disciplinary measures by the Ethics Committee consist of four types: expulsion (revocation of party membership and forced removal), suspension of party membership, suspension of party position, and warning. Suspension of party membership or party position can last up to one year.
The party conducted an investigation into the sexual harassment and sexual assault case through an external law firm and determined the level of disciplinary action based on the findings.
On May 3, Sohn Min Kim, Acting Party Leader of the Party for National Innovation, stated on the social networking service Facebook, "I sincerely apologize to our party members and the public for the great concern caused by the recent incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault within the party," and added, "We will take this as an opportunity to reflect on the organizational problems."
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