National Assembly Ethics Committee Launched After Over a Year... Will It Fulfill Its Self-Regulation Role This Time?

Kim Jin-pyo Appointed as Special Committee Chair... Jeon Jae-su and Kim Seong-won Named Secretaries

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The Ethics Special Committee, which disciplines lawmakers who have committed various inappropriate remarks and misconduct, has been revived after 1 year and 3 months.

The Ethics Special Committee held a plenary meeting on the 15th and officially launched. Kim Jinpyo, a five-term lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, was appointed as the chairperson of the Ethics Special Committee. Previously, the floor leaders of both ruling and opposition parties agreed that the most senior member in the National Assembly would serve as the chairperson if there were two or more senior members in the committee.

The secretaries were appointed as Jeon Jae-su from the Democratic Party and Kim Seong-won from the People Power Party. Initially, the Democratic Party had nominated Park Jae-ho, but after controversy arose due to adult content appearing on Park’s Facebook account, the secretary was replaced.

The activity period of the Ethics Special Committee is until June 30 of next year. The period can be extended by agreement between the floor leaders of both parties.

At the meeting, the committee members unanimously pledged to "conduct committee activities that meet the public’s expectations."

Representative Jeon promised, "Ultimately, I will work hard so that the Ethics Special Committee does not have to be convened." Representative Kim emphasized, "Unlike other standing committees, this committee has a special position, role, and responsibility. We will do our best to grow into a committee that meets the public’s expectations, not one driven by party interests."

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Jae-jung also said, "Looking back at the 20th National Assembly’s Ethics Special Committee, the excessive filing of complaints and the subsequent lack of review contributed to the decline in public trust. We will do our best as a key pillar to restore public trust." People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Sang-beom added, "The biggest reason the National Assembly has not gained trust is the lack of strictness toward itself, and the formalistic and lenient decisions of the past Ethics Special Committee were a major cause. We will gather wisdom to show efforts to be rational and strict in the eyes of the public."

Some lawmakers also pledged to judge matters objectively without being swayed by party interests. Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Ki-sang emphasized, "I will focus on actions and words rather than party affiliation to make accurate judgments."

People Party lawmaker Lee Tae-gyu said, "I hope the 21st Ethics Special Committee will establish clear principles and standards to become a strictly disciplined committee. It should follow standards of common sense and norms accepted by the public. If the leniency toward one’s own side and strictness toward the opposition do not change, the committee will remain inactive in the 21st National Assembly as well."

Justice Party lawmaker Ryu Ho-jeong said, "Handling the qualifications, ethics, and discipline of lawmakers is especially burdensome and tense. However, during the weeks when the committee meets, I will take it seriously as if judging someone else’s life. I will try to convey perspectives from the viewpoint of youth and young people."

Meanwhile, the disciplinary proposal against Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Young-chan, submitted by the People Power Party, was not tabled at the meeting.

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