Ethics Committee Submits 'Kim Nam-guk Disciplinary Proposal'... Ruling and Opposition United for "Swift Decision"

Democratic Party Highlights Importance of Advisory Committee Procedures
People Power Party Says "Additional Charges and Review Needed"

The ruling and opposition parties have initiated disciplinary procedures at the National Assembly level against independent lawmaker Kim Nam-guk, who has sparked controversy over allegations of virtual asset (coin) speculation.

On the 30th, the National Assembly Ethics Special Committee (Ethics Committee) presented the disciplinary motions against Representative Kim, submitted respectively by the People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea, at the plenary session held in the National Assembly in the morning.

On the 30th, the National Assembly Ethics Special Committee is discussing the disciplinary agenda for Independent lawmaker Kim Nam-guk, who sparked controversy over a large virtual asset investment. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Byun Jae-il, chairman of the Ethics Committee, declared, "Today's meeting will proceed by presenting two disciplinary motions against National Assembly member Kim Nam-guk, listening to explanatory proposals, and then holding substitute debates," and announced the approval of the agenda presentation.

Although the meeting was held behind closed doors afterward, Lee Yang-su, the People Power Party's secretary, emphasized the swift handling of Kim's disciplinary motion in his remarks just before the session went private.

Lee said, "Since leaving the party, Representative Kim has been absent from National Assembly meetings for over ten days, responding with a trick to wait for the allegations to subside," adding, "Timeliness is crucial in disciplining a member of the National Assembly." He continued, "The disciplinary motion against Kim, who has significantly violated the National Assembly Act's code of ethics and the National Assembly members' ethical practice standards, must proceed quickly."

He proposed, "According to the National Assembly rules, the Ethics Committee must set a period for submitting opinions within one month when consulting," and suggested, "Let's minimize the period to ensure that the advisory committee can actively submit opinions."

The advisory committee is a body composed of external experts within the Ethics Committee. When a disciplinary motion is referred to the advisory committee, the review can last up to two months. After this review process, the advisory committee submits an opinion to the Ethics Committee. The People Power Party has previously argued to skip this advisory committee and directly refer the disciplinary motion to the plenary session.

Lee stated, "Even after submitting the disciplinary motion against Representative Kim, additional charges and suspicions related to the coin gate continue to arise," and added, "The Ethics Committee must request a review of the additional charges and suspicions surrounding Representative Kim so that the advisory committee can also examine these matters." He also emphasized resolving that Kim should attend the next Ethics Committee meeting.

The Democratic Party also agreed on the swift handling of the disciplinary motion against Kim but highlighted the importance of the advisory committee consultation process as stipulated by the National Assembly Act.

Song Ki-heon, the Democratic Party's secretary, said, "We hope for a substantive and swift decision through the Ethics Committee," but added, "For the Ethics Committee to make a substantive and swift decision, it is necessary for us to organize the related matters well." He warned, "If the related matters are not confirmed and a decision cannot be made, unnecessary delays will occur, and not only the Ethics Committee but the entire National Assembly may face criticism," emphasizing, "The National Assembly must strive to ensure that when the Ethics Committee reviews and refers the case to the advisory committee, a swift decision can be made."

Disciplinary actions against National Assembly members are classified into four stages: warning in a public meeting, apology in a public meeting, suspension of attendance for up to 30 days, and expulsion. The disciplinary motion against Representative Kim is expected to go through the advisory committee review after today's meeting, then be resolved by the Ethics Committee's disciplinary subcommittee and plenary session before being presented to the plenary session of the National Assembly.

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