Ruling Party Proposes 'Lee Jin-sook Prevention Act'... Kim Min-seok Says, "5.18 Distortion Must Not Become a Megaphone"

[Financial News] The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on the 14th proposed a bill to suspend the duties of lawmakers who distort officially recognized democratization movements or acts of state violence. The move targets a recent forum hosted by People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-sook with a conservative civic group that has been at the center of controversy over alleged distortion of the Gwangju Democratization Movement.
DPK lawmaker Lee Yong-woo introduced a revision to the National Assembly Act that would create a new category of punishment, "suspension of duties," between expulsion, the harshest disciplinary measure for lawmakers, and suspension from attendance. Kim Min-seok, a candidate for party leader, also signed on as a co-sponsor.
Lawmakers suspended from duty would be barred for up to one year from attending plenary sessions and Standing Committee meetings, as well as from speaking, voting, introducing bills, and taking part in the Parliamentary Inspection of the Administration and National Assembly investigations. They would also receive no salary during that period. Grounds for suspension include spreading falsehoods, defamation, insult, slander, distortion, or fabrication regarding democratization movements and acts of state violence whose facts have been officially established at the national level.
Hosting or organizing an event that is expected to involve conduct subject to discipline would also fall under the suspension measure. A forum recently held by Rep. Lee Jin-sook with a civic group accused of distorting the 5.18 movement would therefore qualify as a disciplinary case under the proposed revision.
Over the years, several lawmakers accused of distorting history, including the 5.18 movement, have faced expulsion efforts. But those moves often came to nothing because the National Assembly Act requires support from at least two-thirds of all sitting lawmakers. A resolution calling for Lee's expulsion was also submitted on the day, but it is unlikely to pass. That is why Lee Yong-woo introduced the revision.
Kim said, "A lawmaker's badge must not become a shield for historical distortion, and the people's National Assembly must not become a megaphone for historical distortion." He added, "We must fix the institutional gap that allows lawmakers to keep exercising their powers as if nothing happened, simply because expulsion did not go through," explaining why he co-sponsored the bill.

[email protected] Kim Yun-ho Reporter