Lee Jin-sook Returns to Science Committee, Sparking Fierce Ruling-Party Attacks

The ruling and opposition parties clashed head-on on the 30th over the National Assembly standing committee assignment of Rep. Lee Jin-sook of the People Power Party (PPP). The Democratic Party of Korea called for her removal, citing "potential conflicts of interest" based on Lee's past allegations, while the PPP countered that there was "no problem." The conflict between Lee and the Democratic Party, which dates back to her tenure as chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), is playing out again at the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee following her entry into the National Assembly.

Members of the committee from both parties engaged in a heated dispute over Lee's assignment during the committee's plenary session held at the National Assembly that day. The Democratic Party argued that since Lee previously served as KCC chairperson, having a figure who could be subject to a parliamentary audit serve as a committee member conducting the audit raised the possibility of a conflict of interest.

Rep. Lee Yeon-hee of the Democratic Party pointed out, "Rep. Lee is a direct party to various legal controversies related to breach of trust in the course of duty, violation of the Public Official Election Act, disputes over the obligation of political neutrality, abuse of authority and dereliction of duty," adding, "Her activities during her tenure at the KCC could also be subject to the parliamentary audit scheduled for October." She continued, "The National Assembly Act restricts the appointment of parties with conflicts of interest," and stated, "Assigning Rep. Lee to the committee is not appropriate, whether for Rep. Lee herself, for the PPP, or for the committee." Rep. Lee Yeon-hee urged committee chairman Rep. Song Ki-heon of the Democratic Party to request an advisory opinion from the ethics advisory committee and pass a resolution to remove Lee from her post.

The Democratic Party called for withdrawal of the assignment, raising various past allegations against Lee. Rep. Hwang Jung-a of the Democratic Party criticized, "As someone who personally filed a complaint against Rep. Lee for breach of trust over allegations of private use of a corporate card at Daejeon MBC, I feel devastated," and asked, "What citizen would accept a situation in which I have to face and work alongside the very person I filed a complaint against?"

The conflict between the Democratic Party and Lee has continued since Lee's tenure as KCC chairperson. At the time, the Democratic Party passed an impeachment motion against her, claiming that Lee had pushed through the appointment of public broadcasting directors and other matters through a two-member KCC. The party also filed a series of complaints over allegations of private use of a corporate card and perjury at a hearing, resulting in sharp confrontation. Lee had responded by publicly criticizing the Democratic Party's impeachment attempts. Lee later won a by-election as a member of the PPP and entered the National Assembly, and her assignment to the committee has brought her into conflict with the Democratic Party once again.

In response to the Democratic Party lawmakers' calls for her removal, Lee countered that she was "fully qualified." Lee explained, "This is a matter that the public can judge and that can be handled in accordance with the National Assembly Act." She stressed, "I express deep regret over the fact that they held a press conference as if collectively bullying a transfer student."

PPP lawmakers also stepped up in rebuttal. Rep. Choi Hyoung-doo of the PPP, the opposition secretary of the committee, pointed out, "Filing a complaint against a lawmaker from another party simply because you dislike them, and then excluding them from National Assembly activities on those grounds, is extralegal thinking." Rep. Kim Jang-kyum of the PPP also sharpened his tone, saying, "There are also lawmakers among the Democratic Party who have been the subject of complaints filed by the PPP."

As the exchanges between the parties continued, the meeting was suspended about an hour after it opened.

Lee later held a press conference and continued her pointed criticism aimed at the Democratic Party. Lee said, "The Democratic Party and the leftist group do things we cannot even imagine," adding, "The Republic of Korea has become a world where the abnormal is the new normal under the Democratic Party government."

Lee also took issue with the records of Democratic Party lawmakers. "When Rep. Kim Hyun of the Democratic Party was accused in the case of assaulting a substitute driver by Sewol ferry victims' families, didn't she refrain from committee activities because she became a suspect? Is Rep. Kim Nam-gook of the Democratic Party, who was summoned for questioning as a suspect on charges of disseminating false information under the Public Official Election Act, qualified to be a committee member?" she demanded.

She then raised her voice, saying, "If I have no qualification because you filed a complaint against me and I am a respondent, then if I file defamation complaints against all of you and you become respondents, will you also lose your qualifications as committee members?" She added, "If you plan to create a law that strips committee qualifications from those under complaint in order to drive out Lee Jin-sook, be prepared. At least dozens of people in the Democratic Party will lose their qualifications as committee members."

Lee added, "I will continue to fight without wavering against the ruthless 'gaeddal' Democratic Party and the 'gaeddal' Lee Jae-myung government."