Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do (right) and People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik leave a suspended plenary session of the National Assembly's Steering Committee on Monday. [Yonhap]
Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do (right) and People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik leave a suspended plenary session of the National Assembly's Steering Committee on Monday. [Yonhap]

The National Assembly's Steering Committee passed a revision to the Assembly Act on Monday that would subject the head of a new Serious Crimes Investigation Agency — to be established as part of prosecution reform — to a confirmation hearing. The ruling and opposition parties also clashed over a motion to expel People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-sook amid controversy over her remarks disparaging the May 18 pro-democracy movement.

The committee passed both the Assembly Act revision and a revision to the Confirmation Hearing Act by bipartisan agreement at a plenary session, following review by a subcommittee on operational improvements. The Confirmation Hearing Act revision would allow the president and others to request that the National Assembly submit a confirmation hearing progress report when the Assembly fails to complete a hearing for a nominee to lead the agency within the legally required period.

A separate revision to the Confirmation Hearing Act — adding the secretary-general of the National Election Commission to the list of officials subject to confirmation hearings — was also tabled. The move aims to strengthen the Assembly's oversight of the commission following a ballot shortage during the June 3 election.

The Democratic Party sought to table a resolution calling for Lee's expulsion at the committee session but met with resistance from the People Power Party. After Lee co-hosted a public forum titled "A New Look at the May 18 Pro-Democracy Movement" with a civic group led by New Right figures at the National Assembly Library on Aug. 13, Democratic Party lawmakers introduced a party-line resolution the following day calling for her expulsion over what they described as distortion and disparagement of the May 18 movement.

Cheon Jun-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker serving as the ruling party's steering committee whip, said demands for disciplinary action against Lee were pouring in even from within the People Power Party. "The PPP's ethics committee decided on heavy disciplinary measures against four sitting lawmakers on Thursday, yet did not even consider disciplining Rep. Lee," he said.

He added that PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok appeared intent on leaving only far-right forces within the party. "Is this not why we are seeing the absurd situation where Rep. Lee is now threatening to file a complaint against the Democratic Party leader on insult charges?" he said. Lee filed a complaint that day against Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, who had referred to her as a "female Hitler."

Kim Seung-su, a PPP lawmaker serving as the opposition party's steering committee whip, rebuffed the criticism. "When it comes to inflammatory remarks by lawmakers, Democratic Party members have had more than their share over the years," he said. "Rep. Han Min-su even called our party leader a psychopath."

He added that if the Democratic Party truly wished to restore the dignity of the National Assembly, it should apply the same principles and standards to its own members who make such remarks.


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