From "Honey, I Love You" to Stock Trading... Lawmakers Caught Using Phones in the Plenary Chamber [Current Affairs Show]

10 Lawmakers Embarrassed by Text Messages Exposed in the Plenary Chamber
Lee Chunseok Expelled Overnight, Now Under Investigation
'Text Message Scandals' Continue Despite Party Leadership Warnings

■ Broadcast: Asia Economy's 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show' (Monday to Friday, 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM)

■ Host: Political Specialist So Jongseop ■ Producer: PD Lee Miri

The recent incident involving Assemblyman Lee Chunseok conducting stock transactions in the National Assembly plenary session has caused a major stir. The controversy escalated after a photographer from The Fact captured Lee manipulating his mobile phone. It is not a new issue for lawmakers to be caught sending or reading text messages, or playing games during plenary sessions. Such incidents have been occurring for over a decade. Despite repeated warnings and cautionary messages from party leadership, these efforts have proven ineffective. We looked into ten lawmakers who found themselves in embarrassing or controversial situations after being photographed with their mobile phones in the plenary chamber.

First is former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Chunseok. The incident was photographed on August 4 and reported on August 5. Lee was caught on camera during the plenary session on the 4th, using both hands to operate his mobile phone and trading stocks of Naver, Kakao Pay, and LG CNS. Not only was it inappropriate to conduct stock trading during the plenary session, but more problematic was the fact that the stock account used for these transactions was not his own, but rather registered under his aide, Mr. Cha. Lee explained, "I have never opened a stock account under another person's name. I have not conducted any transactions." However, allegations of violations of the Real Name Financial Transactions Act, the Public Service Ethics Act, and the Capital Markets Act have been raised.

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Photos taken during last year’s parliamentary audit have resurfaced, fueling suspicions that Lee may have habitually used accounts under his aide’s name for transactions. Furthermore, since Lee served as the head of the Economic Policy Division 2 of the National Policy Planning Committee, which handles AI policies, suspicions have also arisen that he may have used undisclosed information for personal gain. President Lee Jae Myung ordered a thorough investigation, and the Democratic Party immediately expelled Lee. Having served four terms and chaired the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Lee suddenly found his political career in jeopardy. It is now uncertain whether he will be able to retain his seat in the National Assembly.

The second figure is Song Eon Seok, interim leader and floor leader of the People Power Party. On August 4, he was photographed exchanging messages via Telegram with Kang Hoon Sik, Chief Presidential Secretary, discussing requests for pardons and reinstatement for Kim, the wife of former Incheon Mayor Ahn Sang Soo, as well as former lawmakers Shim Hak Bong, Jeong Chan Min, and Hong Moon Jong. Criticism immediately followed: "How can you oppose pardons and then do this? Isn’t this hypocrisy?" and "This is political bargaining." In response, Song reversed his stance, saying, "I will drop the matter. I oppose pardons for politicians," but the controversy continued.

On the 4th, Lee Chunseok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, was checking a stock account opened under the name of an aide during the plenary session of the National Assembly. Provided by The Fact

The "Honey, I love you" incident from 2013 is also widely known. On November 21 that year, Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Ho Junwas photographed exchanging text messages in the plenary chamber. During the morning session, Jeong sent and received messages, which were immediately spotted by photographers. The message read, "Love always tries not to part and wants to see each other more. I don’t think putting up pride and trying to break up is love. ~ Honey, I love you." The problem was that the recipient was not Jeong’s spouse at the time. Multiple suspicions were raised, and in 2016, he was cut from his party’s nomination.

People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong Dong also found himself in an embarrassing situation after being photographed with a text message in the plenary chamber. In July 2022,a message sent by former President Yoon Seok Yeol, who was then referred to as a "Yoon core," to Kwon was exposed by cameras. The message included the phrase, "A party leader who only causes internal strife." This was a criticism by former President Yoon of Lee Jun Seok, who had just served as party leader and is now the leader of the Reform Party. This incident marked the point of no return in the relationship between Yoon and Lee.

Lee Jae Myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is reading a text message saying "This is war" sent by aide Kim Hyun Ji at the opening ceremony of the regular National Assembly session on September 1, 2022. Photo by Yoon Dong Joo

President Lee Jae Myung also experienced an embarrassing moment. On September 1, 2022, at the opening ceremony of the regular National Assembly session, he was photographed reading a text message sent by Kim Hyun Ji, his closest aide and then secretary, who was considered a key figure in the Seongnam-Gyeonggi faction. The message read, "A request for your attendance has just arrived regarding the announcement of false information about Baekhyeon-dong, the announcement of false information related to the Daejang-dong development, and your statement that you did not know Kim Moon Ki. This is war." The last phrase, "This is war," especially stood out, highlighting the presence of "closest aide Kim Hyun Ji" in the political arena.

Sixth is former Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Young Chan. On September 8, 2020, Yoon’s text message, "Tell Kakao to come in," was made public, sparking criticism that he was exerting pressure on a portal site. He had sent a message to his aide instructing them to summon a Kakao representative to the National Assembly over issues with the news arrangement order on the portal site Daum. This scene was captured by photographers and led to controversy over abuse of power.

Who is the seventh? It is People Power Party lawmaker In Yohan. On September 5 last year, he was photographed by a journalist sending a text message during the plenary session while People Power Party floor leader Choo Kyung Ho was delivering a party representative speech. The message, sent to someone presumed to be a medical professional or hospital staff, contained a request regarding a patient's surgery: "The patient you asked about is in surgery now~." At the time, the so-called "emergency room roulette" issue was prominent, making the controversy even bigger.

On June 27, 2013, another text message incident occurred. In the plenary chamber, former Saenuri Party lawmaker Kim Moo Sung was seen reading a message. However, the sender, former lawmaker Kim Jae Won, attracted more attention. The message read, "Brother, I swear it wasn’t me." The use of the term "brother" was highlighted, drawing criticism for being inappropriate. The previous day, Kim Moo Sung had made remarks at a closed-door party meeting that were leaked to the media, and Kim Jae Won, suspected of being the source, was pleading his innocence in the message, but the term "brother" stood out.

On September 5 last year, In Yohan, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party and chairman of the Medical Reform Special Committee, was checking a text message on his mobile phone during Floor Leader Choo Kyungho's party representative speech at the National Assembly plenary session. Photo by Yonhap News

Former lawmaker Shim Jae Cheol was caught in March 2013 viewing a nude-related photo on his mobile phone during a plenary session, causing embarrassment.Shim explained, "A link appeared, I clicked it by accident, and it popped up. I closed it immediately," but the controversy persisted. Oh Jae Se, Democratic Party lawmaker, was photographed in June 2013 sending a text message and personal records that appeared to be a request for employment to the then Superintendent of Education in North Chungcheong Province.

In addition, former Saenuri Party lawmaker Jasmine Lee and former Democratic Party lawmaker Kwon In Sook were also photographed playing mobile games in the plenary chamber, finding themselves in embarrassing situations.

As such, every time a "mobile phone incident" occurs in the National Assembly plenary chamber, party leaderships have repeatedly sent warning messages to lawmakers to be cautious in their use. Nevertheless, as these incidents continue, there is now talk of banning mobile phones from the plenary chamber altogether.