Itaewon Tragedy 'Offensive Remarks' Controversy: City Councilor Faces Disciplinary Action... Changwon City Council Ethics Committee Referral

Kim Mina, a member of the People Power Party and Changwon City Council in Gyeongnam, is bowing her head after an apology statement at the city council plenary session on the 13th. / Photo by Ryeong Lee

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] On the 21st, the Changwon City Council in Gyeongnam referred City Councilor Kim Mina of the People Power Party to the Ethics Special Committee.

At the 4th plenary session of the 120th City Council held that day, the council referred the disciplinary request agenda regarding Councilor Kim to the Ethics Special Committee.

Councilor Kim was embroiled in controversy for posting ‘inappropriate remarks’ on SNS regarding the Itaewon tragedy and officially apologized at the city council plenary session on the 13th.

At that time, she said, “I posted inappropriate content on my personal SNS,” and “I bow my head and apologize to the citizens and bereaved families who were hurt emotionally.”

SNS post by Kim Mina, People Power Party member of Changwon City Council, Gyeongnam. [Image source=Captured from Councilor Kim Mina's Facebook]

Chairman Kim Euigeun declared the start of the meeting that day and stated that a disciplinary request for Councilor Kim was received on the 16th and that it would be sent to the Ethics Special Committee.

According to the city council, a disciplinary request signed by all 18 members of the Democratic Party, excluding the People Power Party members, was submitted.

The Ethics Special Committee members concurrently serve as members of the Steering Committee and consist of 4 members from the People Power Party and 4 members from the Democratic Party.

The Ethics Special Committee plans to hold its first meeting after the plenary session ends, elect a vice-chairperson by secret ballot, and review the disciplinary proposal through consultation with the Ethics Review Office Committee composed of civilian experts to decide on the disciplinary action and its severity.

Possible disciplinary actions include ▲warning in a public meeting ▲apology in a public meeting ▲suspension of attendance for up to 30 days ▲expulsion.

The review report approved by the Ethics Special Committee will be submitted to the plenary session for a secret ballot vote.

The disciplinary agenda requires attendance of more than half of the total members and approval by the majority of attending members to pass, and expulsion requires approval by two-thirds or more of the total members.

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