Kim Min-seok: “Pushing to suspend lawmakers’ eligibility to perform their duties over ‘extreme’ outrageous remarks ... must be dealt with decisively”

[Financial News] Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 13th that he would pursue a plan to suspend lawmakers’ eligibility to perform their legislative duties for a certain period to strengthen sanctions against lawmakers’ extreme verbal abuse and unethical conduct. He said this was because the National Assembly’s existing Special Committee on Ethics had effectively failed to perform its disciplinary role.
Appearing on the Democratic Party’s YouTube broadcast “Minti07” that day, Kim said, “The National Assembly is the biggest lawless zone when it comes to ethics,” and pointed out that “the worst outrageous remarks and unethical behavior are not being properly regulated.”
He explained, “Because the Ethics Committee is made up of equal numbers, nothing moves forward at all,” adding, “My original idea was that if expulsion is not possible even in the worst cases, lawmakers should instead have their eligibility to carry out their duties suspended for a certain period.”
He continued, “A related bill has been put forward, and the party’s floor leadership is considering it. We discussed the issue yesterday, too,” and said, “I understand that, after discussions with the National Assembly speaker and others, the floor leadership is giving it a final, careful review.”
Kim stressed, “It would be better to deal with issues like this a little more decisively,” adding, “The National Assembly must draw a clear line, particularly on matters such as the May 18 remarks that fall outside the bounds of the Constitution and social ethics.”
He added, “We will discuss this further within the party and, after consultations including with the National Assembly speaker, we will definitely take another step toward overcoming a situation in which the ethics committee exists in name only and cannot impose any actual disciplinary measures.”
On the controversy surrounding President Lee Jae-myung’s golfing on a day off, Kim indicated that he considered the opposition’s attacks excessive.
Kim said, “It wasn’t that he went out to play golf after something had happened; he was already out when something unforeseen occurred and responded to it,” adding, “It should be viewed as it is.”
In particular, he said, “In President Lee’s case, there is the health or exercise aspect, but realistically there is also a kind of diplomatic-preparation aspect,” and added, “I know that U.S. President Donald Trump has said several times that he would like them to exercise or play golf together.”
He continued, “Explaining the situation as it is is the most natural explanation,” and spoke to the effect that there was no need to turn the controversy into a political issue.
On the disclosure of a confidential agreement concerning North Korean prisoners of war in Ukraine, he said it was not yet time to rush into discussing further diplomatic measures.
Kim added, “Calling in the ambassador itself is a very strong diplomatic expression of intent. For now, the priority is to watch Ukraine’s follow-up response and corrective measures. I don’t think this is the time to talk about what comes after that.”

[email protected] Kim Gyeong-min Reporter