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Opposition lawmaker under fire for trying to save fellows who violated ethics rules

Opposition lawmaker under fire for trying to save fellows who violated ethics rules

Posted January. 29, 2016 07:12,   

Updated January. 29, 2016 07:24

한국어

It was learned on Thursday that over 30 lawmakers of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea tried to help two fellow lawmakers who had their party membership suspended for ethical issues and effectively lost their qualifications for the party's nomination for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Rep. Kim Sung-gon wrote a letter of petition for the two fellow lawmakers, Shin Ki-nam and Noh Young-min, whose party membership had been suspended for peddling influence. Kim then asked other lawmakers of his party to co-sign the petition calling for the reinstatement of Shin and Noh. More than 30 lawmakers are said to have co-signed it.

In a telephone interview with the Dong-A Ilbo, Kim said, "It is too much to make them dishonorably end their political careers despite all their accomplishments." Denying the criticism that he was trying to save fellow lawmakers in crisis, he refused to disclose the content of the petition and the names of those who co-signed it. It seems that nearly half of the party's 109 lawmakers will likely sign the petition by Friday, when the signature collecting is due.

Both Shin and Noh plan to apply for a review of their disciplinary actions before the February 2 deadline, it is unlikely that the party's ethics panel will reverse its decision on them. "The letter of petition is unlikely to affect our decision," said Ahn Byung-ook, head of the ethics panel. "If the review application and the petition are submitted, we will deliberate on them at a meeting scheduled for Febraury 4.":

Kim Jong-in, the party's election committee chief who had stressed stern measures on lawmakers' ethical issues, refused to comment on the issue, saying it was not a matter that he should be involved in.



차길호기자 kilo@donga.com