Controversy over Tongue Slip: Kim Jaewon "Finished Self-Restraint, Returning to Supreme Council... No Resignation"

Attendance at the Highest-Level Meeting After One Month
Ethics Committee Expected to Decide on Disciplinary Action Initiation

Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party who had suspended public activities for a month due to a series of 'verbal slips,' returned to the party's Supreme Council meeting on the 1st.

Kim attended the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning and said, "I am attending the Supreme Council after about a month," adding, "I sincerely apologize and feel deeply sorry to the party members who elected me, our party supporters, and the people."

Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party who had suspended public activities throughout April for self-reflection following a series of controversies, is attending and speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 1st. (Photo by Yonhap News)

Kim continued, "I deeply apologize for causing concern to the leader, fellow Supreme Council members, and party officials," and emphasized, "I will diligently find and carry out the necessary work for the party and the country."

At a meeting with reporters after the Supreme Council meeting, Kim explained, "I was instructed to reflect quietly for the month of April, and also to visit Jeju and Gwangju to apologize, so I faithfully carried out those instructions," adding, "Now that the period is over, it is natural that I should attend the Supreme Council."

When asked about 'voluntary resignation,' Kim replied, "I have not thought about that yet," drawing a clear line.

Kim, who received the highest number of votes among the Supreme Council members elected at the March 8 party convention, attended a worship service led by Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church during his first weekend after entering the leadership. He made a controversial remark suggesting that "the spirit of May 18 cannot be included in the Constitution," for which he later apologized.

He faced further criticism after stating at a lecture hosted by a Korean conservative group in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, that "Pastor Jeon unified the right-wing camp."

Regarding the Jeju April 3 Incident, he referred to it as a "low-level memorial day," drawing condemnation from the Jeju region and April 3 organizations, which ultimately led Kim to announce a suspension of public activities.

The People Power Party's Central Ethics Committee, under Chairman Hwang Jeong-geun, is expected to hold its first meeting that day to decide whether to initiate disciplinary action against Kim. Kim said, "If the Ethics Committee requests a statement, I will provide a detailed explanation at that time."

However, since it is the first meeting and mainly an introductory session, the likelihood of a decision by the Ethics Committee that day is low. Yoo Sang-beom, the party's chief spokesperson, said in a briefing after the Supreme Council meeting, "There are talks that if the Ethics Committee meets today, a decision on Kim Jae-won will be made immediately, but the first meeting will be an introductory session for the Ethics Committee members, and whether to put the agenda on the table will be discussed."

He added, "Usually, after the agenda is submitted, the next schedule is set to request statements from the necessary subjects, and then the required decisions are made, so the possibility of a decision at today's Ethics Committee meeting is very slim."

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