With Ethics Committee, Disciplinary Action Against Hong Jun-pyo for 'Flood Golf' Begins Today...Will Severe Punishment Follow?

The Follow-up Response More Problematic Than the Act of Playing Golf
"Apology Press Conference the Previous Day Will Be Taken into Consideration"
National Assembly Ethics Committee Concludes Review of Disciplinary Proposal for Kim Nam-guk

The People Power Party Ethics Committee will begin discussions on disciplining Daegu Mayor Hong Jun-pyo, who sparked controversy over playing golf during flood damage, on the 20th.

It was revealed that Mayor Hong played golf at a golf course in Daegu on the weekend of the 15th, when heavy rains caused casualties nationwide. At that time, Daegu was under 'Emergency Duty Level 2,' with more than 20% of all employees on emergency duty. In response to the controversy, Mayor Hong said, "Where in the public service regulations does it say you can play tennis on weekends but not golf?" and added, "They are using golf to borrow the public sentiment law to criticize me," expressing his opposition.

Accordingly, the Ethics Committee decided on the 18th to initiate disciplinary discussions against Mayor Hong ex officio. This is based on Article 22 of the People Power Party Ethics Code, which prohibits acts contrary to public sentiment, such as playing golf, during national disasters. The day before, Mayor Hong bowed his head and said, "I sincerely apologize to the people and party members wounded by the flood damage." However, since the Ethics Committee initiated the agenda ex officio, it is highly likely that a decision to start disciplinary action will be made.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

There is a precedent in 2006 when former lawmaker Hong Moon-jong was expelled for playing golf during flood damage, so severe disciplinary action is also possible. Lee Yang-su, the senior deputy floor leader of the People Power Party, said in an SBS radio interview, "It seems likely to go as far as disciplinary action," and added, "In fact, the atmosphere among the party's ethics committee members is quite severe." On the same day, People Power Party spokesperson Yoon Hee-seok said on KBS radio, "The regulations are codified, so even if he apologized, it would be difficult to treat it as if nothing happened," but also noted, "I understand there are opinions that the apology could be taken into consideration." People Power Party lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung also said on CBS radio that "the explanation process seemed to be more problematic," but added, "I don't think there will be severe disciplinary action."

Meanwhile, the National Assembly Ethics Special Committee's Ethics Review Advisory Committee will conclude its review of the disciplinary proposal against lawmaker Kim Nam-guk, who left the Democratic Party amid controversy over virtual assets, on the same day. The advisory committee is expected to decide the level of discipline after reviewing Kim's transaction records and explanations. Once the advisory committee determines the disciplinary level for Kim and delivers it to the Ethics Special Committee's disciplinary subcommittee, the disciplinary proposal will go through the subcommittee and the full Ethics Special Committee meeting before proceeding to the final vote in the plenary session.

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