Democratic Party seeks discipline for Lee Jin-sook over 5·18 remarks

The Democratic Party of Korea has submitted a disciplinary motion to the National Assembly against People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-sook. The move follows a forum Lee co-hosted regarding the 5·18 Democratization Movement, during which participants made controversial remarks that critics described as distorting or disparaging the historical event.

The Democratic Party is seeking the highest level of disciplinary action, including expulsion from the National Assembly. Additionally, lawmakers are pushing for amendments to the National Assembly Act to allow for the suspension of duties for up to one year for members who distort or disparage the 5·18 movement.

While the Democratic Party has moved to table a resolution calling for Lee's expulsion and is advocating for the permanent establishment of the National Assembly Ethics Committee, the People Power Party has opposed the measures. Ruling party members argued for equal standards regarding controversial remarks made by Democratic Party members and emphasized the importance of academic freedom and historical reinterpretation. Currently, the actual processing of disciplinary measures remains uncertain due to the lack of a constituted Ethics Committee.