South Korean Opposition Party Submits Disciplinary Measures Against Two Lawmakers
The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has submitted a disciplinary request to the National Assembly against Representatives Na Kyung-won and Kwak Kyu-taek of the People Power Party, alleging violations of the National Assembly Act, a move that threatens to deepen the rift between the ruling and opposition parties. The DPK contends that Representative Na's filibuster remarks were irrelevant to the agenda, deeming the Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-shik's decision to cut off her microphone as appropriate, and included this in the grounds for disciplinary action. The disciplinary request against Representatives Na Kyung-won and Kwak Kyu-taek was submitted to the National Assembly's Bills Division on December 11th under the names of Representatives Kim Hyun-jung, Min Byung-duk, Baek Seung-ah, and Moon Geum-joo. The move is primarily based on Representative Na Kyung-won's conduct during a filibuster and Representative Kwak Kyu-taek's past remarks.
The DPK asserts that the actions of both lawmakers violate the National Assembly Act, emphasizing the necessity of disciplinary measures. On December 9th, during a filibuster on amendments to the Franchise Business Act, Representative Na Kyung-won was warned by Speaker Woo Won-shik that her remarks were not relevant to the agenda. Subsequently, Speaker Woo took the step of turning off Representative Na's microphone. The DPK views Representative Na's actions as a violation of the National Assembly Act, arguing for the need for disciplinary action. While the specific provisions violated have not been explicitly stated, the party emphasizes that she disrupted the order of National Assembly proceedings. Representative Kwak Kyu-taek's past remarks are also a key factor in this disciplinary request. While the specifics of Representative Kwak's problematic remarks have not been immediately disclosed, the DPK appears to believe that these remarks damaged the dignity of a member of the National Assembly.
According to the National Assembly Act, a member of the National Assembly can be subject to disciplinary action following a resolution by the plenary session or a committee. Disciplinary measures include public apology, suspension of attendance for up to 30 days, and expulsion. The severity of the disciplinary action is determined after review by the National Assembly's Ethics Special Committee. The DPK's submission of the disciplinary request is expected to further exacerbate the conflict between the ruling and opposition parties within the National Assembly. In particular, the differing stances between the parties regarding the actions taken by the Speaker during the filibuster highlight the potential for significant impact on future National Assembly operations. The People Power Party has criticized the DPK's disciplinary request as a political offensive, suggesting the possibility of legal action. If the hardline confrontation between the two parties continues, a paralyzed National Assembly cannot be ruled out.
The National Assembly's Ethics Special Committee is scheduled to review the disciplinary request submitted by the DPK. The outcome of the Ethics Committee's review will determine whether Representatives Na Kyung-won and Kwak Kyu-taek will be disciplined, and the severity of any such measures. Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-shik stated regarding the situation, "I will adhere to the principles and procedures of National Assembly operation, maintaining a fair and objective stance." The National Assembly Ethics Special Committee is the body responsible for reviewing and disciplining members of the National Assembly for violations of the Code of Ethics or actions that damage their dignity. The committee collects relevant evidence, hears statements from the parties involved, and then determines whether or not to impose disciplinary measures and the severity of such measures.
