Cheonan City Council Member Lee Jong-dam Files Appeal Against Suspension of Disciplinary Action

City Council: "No Legal Defects, Concerned About Secondary Harm to Victims"
Cheonan Asan Kyung Sil Ryeon: "Councilor Lee Jong-dam Must Resign"

The Cheonan City Council in Chungnam has filed an appeal against the court's decision to grant a stay of execution for Councilor Lee Jong-dam, who was suspended from attendance for 30 days.

On the 3rd, during the 1st plenary session of the 1st regular meeting of the 269th session, the Cheonan City Council passed a motion demanding disciplinary action against Councilor Lee Jong-dam.

Councilor Lee was scheduled to be suspended from attending the council for 30 days until the 2nd of next month, following disciplinary procedures after being indicted without detention by the prosecution on charges of sexually harassing a fellow female councilor.

However, Councilor Lee applied to the Daejeon District Court for a stay of execution of the disciplinary action, and on the 11th, the court granted the application.

At that time, the court stated, "Considering the time and place of the physical contact and the relationship with the victim, it seems unlikely that similar acts will be repeated," and added, "Given that the councilor must continue legislative activities even after the disciplinary action, it is necessary to urgently suspend the execution to prevent irreparable harm to the applicant."

The court further noted, "The applicant claims there was no intent during the physical contact, so it seems necessary to further examine the reasons for the disciplinary action in the main case and make a judgment," and declared, "The execution of the disciplinary action is suspended until 30 days from the date of the main case judgment."

In response, the Cheonan City Council recently decided to appeal after legal review and submitted the appeal through legal representatives on the 17th.

A Cheonan City Council official stated, "The disciplinary reasons for this case have already been forwarded to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment, and the disciplinary decision was made by the Ethics Special Committee and approved by the plenary session," adding, "There is no legal defect, and considering concerns about secondary harm to the victim, the decision to stay execution is a wrong judgment."

Civil society groups also joined the criticism against the vice-chairman.

On the 18th, the Cheonan Asan Federation of Korean Economic Justice Organizations issued a statement urging the immediate resignation of Councilor Lee Jong-dam.

The Federation pointed out, "Even the day after the disciplinary motion was passed, Councilor Lee sent a text message containing abusive language to another female councilor reviewing an ordinance and apologized claiming it was a mistake," and added, "Despite receiving a severe 30-day suspension from attendance, he did not show remorse and sent another abusive message the following day."

They continued, "The behavior of a fellow councilor, who is a representative of the citizens, obstructing legitimate legislative activities for the citizens with abusive and offensive language driven by personal emotions must be strongly condemned," and emphasized, "Although he may feel wronged by unintended actions and words and blame himself for the difficult situation caused by mistakes, as a councilor representing citizens, he must adhere to higher ethical and moral standards than ordinary people in speech and conduct."

They concluded, "Councilor Lee Jong-dam should repent sincerely to the affected councilor and the citizens of Cheonan, and resign immediately as the final act of responsibility as a politician."

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