Gominjeong: "Choe Kangwook Is a Senior I Like, but We Must Move Beyond Leniency"

"Choe Kang-wook's Severe Disciplinary Decision Was Painful and Difficult"
"Lee Sang-min's Disappointment... Hopes He Won't Leave"

Ko Min-jung, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, spoke about the disciplinary action of "six months suspension of party membership" imposed on former lawmaker Choi Kang-wook, who caused controversy with his 'female' remark, saying, "The decision was painful and difficult, but we decided to discipline him that way."

In an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 23rd, Ko said, "He is a senior I personally like and someone I worked with at the Blue House," adding, "Still, we promised to break away from leniency in front of the public."

Gominjeong, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Regarding the severe disciplinary action of suspending party membership for six months, Ko explained, "The Secretary-General apologized and responded quickly even though it was wrong, but there was a reaction that it was not enough, and as a political party, we could not avoid taking appropriate measures."

On the Democratic Party's Women's Committee issuing a belated statement of regret the day before, Ko said, "From the first day, the Women's Committee kept demanding the leadership to act," adding, "They asked me why we did not issue a statement, but I am not in a position to make decisions. Drawing out a decision is more important; issuing a statement just for political purposes is not the right direction."

Regarding criticism that lawmakers Min Hyung-bae and Kim Yong-min, who were present at the event where former lawmaker Choi made the 'female' remark, should also be disciplined, Ko said, "If we start to scrutinize like that, who was at the scene, what about the party members who were there, it will keep leading to more questions," adding, "For now, we concluded to discipline the person involved."

On the recent hints by five-term senior lawmaker Lee Sang-min about leaving the party and contacting the People Power Party, Ko said, "As a first-term lawmaker, I feel a great sense of sadness watching a senior lawmaker who has been with the Democratic Party for a long time," adding, "I am disappointed that someone can throw it all away in an instant."

She continued, "I still hope he does not leave," adding, "As first-term lawmakers who have been part of the Democratic Party, do we really like everything the party does 100%? I think politics is about embracing difficulties and walking together."

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