Following the President, 'Controversy Under Fire' for the Ruling Party... Democratic and Justice Parties Also Join the Accusation Battle (Comprehensive)

Democrats Demand Disciplinary Action Against Jeong Jin-seok and Kwon Seong-dong
Justice Party Also Submits Disciplinary Proposal Against Kwon Seong-dong
Controversy Over Remarks by Kim Moon-soo, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] On the 13th, during the ongoing National Assembly audit, the ruling party is under intense fire over issues such as the 'colonial historiography controversy' and 'verbal abuse controversy.' After President Yoon Seok-yeol was embroiled in a profanity scandal during his visit to the United States, ruling party lawmakers have consecutively become targets of controversy. Both the opposition Democratic Party and the Justice Party demanded disciplinary action against the ruling party lawmakers on the same day.

Oh Young-hwan, the floor spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, announced after the audit countermeasure meeting that they would submit disciplinary proposals against Chung Jin-seok, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, and Kwon Seong-dong, a People Power Party lawmaker.

Chairman Chung sparked controversy on the 11th by refuting the remarks of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, on Facebook, stating, "Joseon rotted and decayed from within, and that is why it fell. Japan never went to war with the Joseon dynasty."

In response, the Democratic Party launched a fierce attack, labeling Chairman Chung's remarks as 'pro-Japanese.' Park Chan-dae, a Supreme Council member, demanded an immediate apology for the offensive remarks, while Jang Kyung-tae, another Supreme Council member, said, "Is President Yoon the Prime Minister of Japan? Is Chairman Chung the leader of Japan's ruling party or the Governor-General of Joseon?"

The Democratic Party also took issue with lawmaker Kwon's remarks. Earlier, on the 7th, during the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee audit, Kwon criticized Kim Je-nam, Chairman of the Korea Nuclear Safety Foundation appointed during the Moon Jae-in administration, saying, "You might as well bite your tongue and die; why do such things?" This led to a heated exchange with Democratic Party lawmakers urging to "refrain from personal attacks," causing a commotion in the audit hall.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding this, Seo Yong-joo, the Democratic Party's full-time deputy spokesperson, also criticized on the 8th during a briefing, saying, "President Yoon needs a hearing test, and lawmaker Kwon needs a Korean language test. How long do they intend to mock the entire nation?" He added, "Both President Yoon and lawmaker Kwon display arrogance in refusing to apologize to the people. The saying 'birds of a feather flock together' comes to mind." On the same day, spokesperson Oh and Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Yong-gi submitted a complaint against Chairman Chung to the National Assembly Secretariat.

The Justice Party also pointed out lawmaker Kwon's remarks and submitted a disciplinary request to the National Assembly. Ryu Ho-jeong, the floor spokesperson, stated in a written briefing, "Lawmaker Kwon's remarks to Chairman Kim during the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee audit on the 7th were clear verbal abuse and personal attacks," adding, "This goes beyond insulting the head of the audited institution to insulting the honor and authority of the National Assembly itself, constituting a 'parliamentary violence incident.'" She further criticized both President Yoon and lawmaker Kwon, saying, "The nationwide hearing test must be concluded with a 'dismissal'."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, the Democratic Party announced plans to file charges of insult and perjury against Kim Moon-soo, Chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, who caused controversy during the previous day's Environment and Labor Committee audit by calling former President Moon Jae-in a "Kim Il-sungist." Democratic Party lawmakers from the Environment and Labor Committee held a press conference demanding Kim's voluntary resignation, questioning, "Is the Economic, Social and Labor Council a place where a far-right YouTuber known for verbal abuse can be appointed as chairman?"

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