Song Unseok: "Chunseok Lee's Borrowed-Name Investment Is a Serious Breach of Constitutional Order... Lee Must Clarify His Position"

"This Issue Cannot Be Settled by Resignation or Expulsion; It Is an Ethics Violation"
"The Chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee Should Be Returned to the Second-Largest Party"
When Asked About Withdrawing the Pardon and Reinstatement Request, He Avoided the Question, Saying "It Is Not Important"

Song Unseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, commented on Democratic Party lawmaker Chunseok Lee, who left the party due to allegations of stock trading under a false name, stating, "This is a grave case of undermining the constitutional order, so serious that the President should personally address it." He added, "We will proceed with filing a complaint to the National Assembly Ethics Committee and initiate criminal charges."

Chairman Song held a press briefing at the main building of the National Assembly on this day and said, "Although Representative Lee has resigned from his position as Chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, his responsibility does not end there." Originally, Chairman Song was scheduled to visit the Hyundai Motor plant in Ulsan in the morning to seek support measures for the automobile industry in response to the U.S. tariff hike, but he canceled the visit and held the press briefing instead.

Song Unseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at a press briefing on current issues held at the National Assembly on August 6, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Chairman Song stated, "Representative Lee served as the head of Economic Division 2 in the National Policy Planning Committee, which can be considered the transition committee of the Lee Jaemyung administration, and was in charge of the AI (artificial intelligence) industry." He emphasized, "On the day the Ministry of Science and ICT announced the 'AI National Team' project, he purchased stocks of companies participating in the project. This in itself is a serious conflict of interest and a violation of public office ethics."

He continued, "If Representative Lee used insider information for stock investment, or if he was involved in the selection of AI National Team companies for the purpose of making capital gains, this constitutes a serious crime undermining the constitutional order." He added, "Moreover, the public believes it is unlikely that Representative Lee was the only one to obtain such information. Therefore, a comprehensive investigation should be conducted into all individuals who received, conveyed, or handled the relevant information."

Chairman Song urged, "Immediately disband the National Policy Planning Committee, which is tainted with all sorts of power abuse and conflicts of interest." He added, "It has already been two months since the President took office. I hope the Board of Audit and Inspection will conduct an immediate audit of the National Policy Planning Committee and the Ministry of Science and ICT."

In particular, Chairman Song questioned, "Why did such an unfortunate incident of stock trading occur in the plenary session of the National Assembly? This is the result of holding the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, a position that should not have been taken." He asserted, "True reflection and responsibility should begin with recognizing the problems of monopolizing the positions of Speaker and Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair, and returning the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to the second-largest party in the Assembly."

Earlier, Democratic Party leader Cheolrae Jeong announced in the morning that Representative Lee, embroiled in allegations of stock trading under a false name, would be expelled from the party. The Democratic Party also designated Choo Mi-ae, a six-term senior lawmaker, as the new nominee for the vacant chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

Regarding the Democratic Party's move to expel Representative Lee, Chairman Song said, "This is not an issue that can be resolved simply by one person's departure or expulsion." He emphasized, "Rather than trying to cover it up by cutting off the tail, I hope the government will recognize the seriousness of such acts undermining the constitutional order." He also reiterated regarding Choo Mi-ae's nomination as Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair, "In order to prevent serious abuses of unchecked power, the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee should be returned to the second-largest party in the Assembly."

Democratic Party lawmaker Chunseok Lee, who is suspected of trading stocks under a false name, attended the National Assembly plenary session on the 5th, cast his vote on the amendment to the Broadcasting Act, and then moved to the ballot box. Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding some calls for a full investigation into all cases of investment under borrowed names, prompted by the allegations against Representative Lee, Chairman Song said, "I also agree that a full investigation should be conducted, but there needs to be further discussion about who will do it, where, and how."

On the issue of the President's special pardon, Chairman Song stated, "Since it is the President's exclusive authority, people may comment from the sidelines, but the final judgment and decision rest with the President." He added, "I also fully agree with the principle that the focus should be on those convicted of crimes affecting people's livelihoods."

However, regarding the recent controversy over Chairman Song's request to Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik for a special Liberation Day pardon and reinstatement for four former People Power Party lawmakers who had been imprisoned on corruption charges, he said, "When the People Power Party was the ruling party, the then-opposition Democratic Party also requested pardons and reinstatements for various politicians." When asked whether he would withdraw the request for pardon and reinstatement, he avoided a direct answer, saying, "That is not the important issue right now."