Adultery, Theft, and Golf Club Assault... Flood of Criticism Against Out-of-Control Ruling Party Local Councilor

Kimje City Council Infidelity Scandal... Following Yoo Jin-woo, Councilor Go Mi-jeong Also Expelled
Ruling Party Local Councilors Face Consecutive Controversies
United Future Party: "Causing Disappointment and Anger Among Citizens"
Experts: "Party Discipline Has Somewhat Weakened"

Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the 2nd meeting of the Future Transformation K-New Deal Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 24th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Local councilors affiliated with the Democratic Party of Korea have sparked controversy by causing various incidents and accidents, including theft, sexual harassment, and so-called 'adultery scandals.' The councilors involved, facing ongoing criticism, ultimately decided to leave the party, but some express concern, saying, "The ruling party's misconduct is going too far." Experts pointed out that after the ruling party monopolized local councils, with no checks from anyone, party discipline has somewhat loosened.

Recently, councilors from the Democratic Party of Korea in Gimje City Council, Jeonbuk Province, who caused a stir with an 'adultery scandal,' were consecutively expelled. On the 22nd, Gimje City Council expelled councilors Yoo Jin-woo and Go Mi-jung for causing disruptions to the council's agenda and damaging its reputation.

The adultery scandal involving the two councilors came to light when Councilor Yoo held a resignation press conference on the 12th of last month, stating, "The rumors circulating are true. I am resigning to take responsibility," thereby revealing the affair.

Subsequently, on the 1st, during the plenary session held to elect the chairperson of Gimje City Council, Councilor Yoo approached Councilor Go and said, "If you have something to say, say it. Didn't you commit adultery with me? If you have something to say, say it," while pointing his finger aggressively. In response, Councilor Go, who was seated, retorted, "So, am I a 'kkotbaem' (flower viper)?" causing a commotion in the chamber.

Ultimately, the expulsion motions proposed by the Ethics Special Committee were passed during the 240th and 241st extraordinary plenary sessions held on the 16th and 22nd, respectively, resulting in the loss of their councilor positions.

On the 16th, citizens held signs demanding the expulsion of council members involved in inappropriate relationships at the plenary session of the Jeonbuk Gimje City Council. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 16th, Lee Dong-hyun, chairman of Bucheon City Council in Gyeonggi Province and a member of the Democratic Party, who was accused of theft, decided to resign from his chairmanship.

Chairman Lee was prosecuted for stealing 700,000 won in cash that another user had withdrawn but forgot to take from an ATM at a bank in Sang-dong, Bucheon City, on March 24.

Through a press release, Chairman Lee said, "I sincerely bow my head and apologize for causing concern to the citizens," and announced, "I have decided to resign from the chairmanship."

The problem is that scandals surrounding Democratic Party local councilors continue unabated. They have been harshly criticized for excessive misconduct, such as assaulting a spouse with a golf club causing death and sexually harassing fellow councilors.

Last year, Yoo Seung-hyun, former chairman of Gimpo City Council in Gyeonggi Province, was sentenced to seven years in prison in the appellate court for killing his wife by hitting her with a golf club. Yoo was prosecuted on charges of killing his wife by hitting her all over with a golf club and fists during a dispute at their home in Yangchon-eup, Gimpo City, on May 15 last year, suspecting her of adultery. Yoo, who was affiliated with the Democratic Party, served as the 5th chairman of Gimpo City Council from 2012 to 2014.

Additionally, Lee Gwan-soo, a Democratic Party councilor of Gangnam-gu Council in Seoul, was booked on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act after refusing a breathalyzer test following an accident in an apartment complex in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, in the early hours of the 11th.

Jang Yoon-ho, a Democratic Party councilor of Ulsan City Council, was recently fined 500,000 won after being indicted for punching the chairman of the residents' autonomy committee while intoxicated at a committee dinner in 2018.

Photo by JTBC News screen capture

In response to the successive scandals, the United Future Party has voiced criticism. On the 12th, Hwang Gyu-hwan, deputy spokesperson of the United Future Party, criticized the repeated controversies involving Democratic Party local councilors in a statement titled "The misconduct of Democratic Party local councilors threatens grassroots democracy."

He opened by saying, "The Democratic Party has damaged the value of grassroots democracy through official document politics prioritizing 'party lines,' and its affiliated councilors have caused disappointment and anger among the public with successive scandals and disgraceful behavior."

He continued, "Not only the councilors' ethical awareness but also whether the Democratic Party itself is functioning as a public party with self-purification mechanisms is questionable. In addition to the autocratic operation of local councils, the Democratic Party's repeated misconduct is further deepening public distrust."

Then, Deputy Spokesperson Hwang emphasized, "The Democratic Party should apologize to the public for the successive scandals and take responsible measures regarding the councilors who caused the controversies."

Experts analyzed that because the Democratic Party monopolizes local councils, proper oversight is not being conducted.

Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "While individual morality is an issue, when multiple controversies erupt simultaneously, there is always a cause. If only former Governor Ahn Hee-jung's Me Too case had occurred, it could be seen as an individual moral issue, but when it continues with former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don and former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, it cannot be viewed as just an individual problem."

He added, "There is also some loosening of discipline within the party, and because there is no check, they exhibit arrogant and insolent behavior."

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