People Power Party Submits Disciplinary Request Against Boo Seungchan, Jang Kyungtae, and Choi Hyukjin for "Repeated Offensive Remarks"

Kim Yongbeom and Kim Eunhye's Verbal Clash
Calls for an Official Apology from the Presidential Office

On the 19th, the People Power Party designated Boo Seungchan and Jang Kyungtae of the Democratic Party of Korea, along with independent lawmaker Choi Hyukjin, as "lawmakers with offensive remarks" and submitted a disciplinary request to the National Assembly Ethics Committee.

Kwak Kyutaek, the party's Legal Advisory Committee Chair, visited the National Assembly Secretariat that day and, after submitting the disciplinary request, told reporters, "We have submitted a disciplinary request against lawmakers Boo Seungchan and Jang Kyungtae, as well as Choi Hyukjin, for repeatedly making offensive remarks in front of the main chamber and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting room."

Kwak Kyutaek, Chief Spokesperson of the People Power Party in the National Assembly (right), is submitting a disciplinary proposal against the "three lawmakers with offensive remarks (Boo Seungchan, Jang Kyungtae, Choi Hyukjin)" to the National Assembly's legislative affairs department on the 19th. Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, on the 13th, Assemblyman Boo, during a heated exchange with Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, outside the main chamber, said to Song, "You're not even worth a punch." Assemblyman Jang, when People Power Party lawmakers staged a collective walkout in protest of Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yoonduk's absence from the plenary session, remarked from his seat, "You said the plenary session was important, but now you're walking out and lying down." Assemblyman Choi also, during a National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit on the 30th of last month, directed the comment "That attitude when you speak" at Chair Kwak.

Chair Kwak stated, "Recently, the tyranny of the Democratic Party's majority has expanded within the National Assembly to include offensive language and threats against lawmakers from the opposing party. This is deeply concerning." He continued, "Because of this atmosphere, during yesterday's Steering Committee meeting, the presidential office's policy chief ended up shouting at and provoking an opposition lawmaker, showing a disregard for the National Assembly." The previous day, Kim Yongbeom, Policy Chief of the Presidential Office, had strongly reacted during the Steering Committee meeting when Kim Eunhye of the People Power Party raised suspicions of gap investing and mentioned his daughter renting a home.

Seo Jiyeong, a People Power Party lawmaker who also submitted the disciplinary request, commented, "It is virtually unprecedented for a senior official from the presidential office to openly express such anger," and added, "There must be an official apology from the presidential office in the future."