"No Proper Debate" Geum Tae-seop Repeatedly Criticizes Democratic Party's 'Gongsoocheo' Bill

"From my side, I do this for the party's success"
"I will continue to be active as a party member in the future"

Former Democratic Party lawmaker Geum Tae-seop Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who was disciplined for abstaining from the vote on the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HOCI) bill, rebutted the criticism that the party "provided sufficient opportunities for discussion, yet he acted against the party line," stating that "there was no proper debate."

Earlier that day (the 3rd), Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-guk appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' in the morning and argued that the party ethics committee's warning decision against former lawmaker Geum was appropriate.

He said, "The party line was decided after sufficient discussion. The disciplinary action for not adhering to the mandatory party line was appropriate."

Regarding this, former lawmaker Geum said in an interview with Kyunghyang Newspaper on the 3rd, "Those opposing the establishment of the HOCI were not included in the Special Committee on Judicial Reform, and even if they were included, the party leadership removed them for some reason. I don't understand how that can be called a proper debate."

Regarding some Democratic Party members urging him to 'leave the party,' he clarified that he has no intention of voluntarily leaving, saying, "I am doing this because I want the party to do well." He added, "I will continue to be active as a party member in the future."

On the previous day (the 2nd), when former lawmaker Geum showed resistance to the disciplinary action, some Democratic Party members publicly urged him to leave the party on SNS boards. One member strongly criticized, "(Geum Tae-seop) Discipline is not the answer. He should have been expelled. Since he is requesting a retrial, he should leave the party. We don't need those who shake the party."

Former lawmaker Geum particularly criticized the Democratic Party's double standards. He said, "The party says that regarding the abstention from the HOCI vote, 'a disciplinary petition was received and judged,' but for the election law abstention, there was no such petition, so no action was taken," adding, "Disciplining lawmakers for their votes based on whether a complaint was filed or not is a very unprincipled and irresponsible attitude."

Former Democratic Party lawmaker Geum Tae-seop Photo by Yonhap News

On the afternoon of the 2nd, former lawmaker Geum submitted a request for retrial to the Democratic Party Ethics Committee. According to Hankook Ilbo, Geum's side stated that "if there is a party rule that sets a lawmaker's disciplinary reason as voting against the party line, that itself proclaims the party as an undemocratic and unconstitutional party."

Geum's side cited five reasons for the retrial request, pointing out problems with the party's disciplinary action. The retrial request included △issues with the application of the 'reason for discipline' regulation △no previous cases of disciplining lawmakers who voted against the party line △the disciplinary action violates the Constitution and laws △the discipline violates the Democratic Party's charter △regret over sending the 'judgment decision' on the lawmaker's term end date, among others.

He also criticized the disciplinary action as potentially unconstitutional. Geum said, "If I had opposed the prosecution reform itself, I could be criticized for walking a different path from the party's values and goals, but being disciplined by our party simply for expressing some dissent regarding the specific direction of prosecution reform is a measure against the values of a democratic party."

While former lawmaker Geum is publicly opposing the party's disciplinary action, the party leadership has made it clear that there is no plan to withdraw the discipline.

Party leader Lee Hae-chan said at a press conference on the previous day (the 2nd), "One can oppose a recommendatory party line and present their own opinion, but a mandatory party line must be enforced," emphasizing, "The ethics committee's warning is the lowest level of discipline."

Earlier, the Democratic Party Ethics Committee issued a 'warning' to former lawmaker Geum on the 25th of last month. It judged that Geum's abstention from the HOCI vote violated party rule 'Article 14 of Rule No. 7' as an act against the party line.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.