Park Ji-hyun "Ruling party undergoing surgery... People Power Party hiding Lee Jun-seok's 'sexual bribery'"

Democratic Party Expels Lawmaker Park Wan-joo Amid Sexual Misconduct Controversy

Park Ji-hyun, Co-Chair of the Emergency Response Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Park Ji-hyun, co-chair of the Democratic Party's joint election committee, has called for disciplinary action against Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, who is under suspicion of sexual bribery.

On the 13th, at an election committee meeting held at the campaign office of Gyeonggi Province Governor candidate Kim Dong-yeon in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Chair Park emphasized, "Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is suspected of sexual bribery and evidence tampering," and stated, "The People Power Party must discipline Lee."

She continued, "We strongly urge the People Power Party and the Yoon Seok-yeol administration to join in eradicating public official corruption," adding, "The People Power Party reportedly decided to postpone disciplinary procedures against Lee until after the local elections. While the Democratic Party is at least undergoing surgery, the People Power Party is still hiding."

Chair Park also said, "Kim Hyun-sook, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, has also called for expediting the disciplinary procedures related to this case," and pointed out, "The People Power Party must discipline Lee. At the very least, they must take such measures to have the right to criticize the Democratic Party."

The Democratic Party quickly responded to allegations of sexual misconduct against lawmaker Park Wan-joo by expelling him, but the People Power Party is delaying action regarding the suspicions against Lee.

Earlier, on the previous day, Chair Park apologized sincerely to the public regarding the expulsion of lawmaker Park, saying, "I sincerely apologize to the people," and added, "Repeated sexual misconduct incidents within the party are truly painful. We must create a party that treats women as complete human beings to stand proudly before the public."

Park Ji-hyun and Yoon Ho-jung, co-chairs of the Emergency Response Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, are making a statement and officially apologizing on the afternoon of the 12th at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, regarding lawmaker Park Wan-joo, who was expelled due to a sexual misconduct case. / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the YouTube channel "Garosero Research Institute" (Gaseyeon) raised suspicions on December 27 last year that Lee received sexual favors from Kim Sung-jin, CEO of iKist, in 2013.

They also emphasized that Lee, who was a member of the emergency committee of the then Grand National Party (now People Power Party), received sexual and alcohol entertainment while arranging a visit to a company of former President Park Geun-hye, and accepted cosmetic sets worth about 9 million won and holiday gifts worth about 2.5 million won.

Subsequently, on December 30 last year, Gaseyeon filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and on the 31st of last month, the civic group "Judicial Exam Preparation Group" filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office against Lee.

The People Power Party's Central Ethics Committee held a plenary meeting on the 21st of last month and unanimously decided to initiate disciplinary procedures against Lee Jun-seok, who was accused of sexual bribery by Gaseyeon and civic groups.

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