Jeong Cheong-rae, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, instructed an urgent fact-finding investigation regarding Choi Kang-wook, the head of the party's training institute.
On the afternoon of the 4th, the Democratic Party informed reporters through a notification message that 'Jeong Cheong-rae, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has instructed the Ethics Inspection Unit to conduct an urgent fact-finding investigation regarding Choi Kang-wook, the head of the training institute.'
Choi has been embroiled in controversy over 'secondary harm' against victims related to the sexual misconduct case of the Rebuilding Korea Party. Earlier, Kang Mi-jeong, the spokesperson for the Rebuilding Korea Party, held a press conference in the morning and announced her resignation from the party in protest of the handling of incidents of sexual misconduct and workplace bullying within the party.
During the press conference, Spokesperson Kang also mentioned Choi's remarks. Spokesperson Kang noted that they have recorded evidence indicating that Choi made comments downplaying the sexual misconduct case at the political academy of the Rebuilding Korea Party held on August 31.
According to a transcript reported by a media outlet that day, former lawmaker Choi stated that the facts regarding the sexual misconduct case should be discussed accurately and went as far as to use the expression 'pigs and dogs.' He also mentioned, 'Honestly, is it a matter of life and death?'
Choi lost his parliamentary seat after being sentenced to a suspended sentence in 2023 for allegedly falsifying an internship activity confirmation for the son of the head of the Rebuilding Korea Party's policy research institute, Jo Kuk. Recently, he was pardoned under the special amnesty on Liberation Day by Lee Jae-myung's government and was appointed as the head of the Democratic Party's training institute on August 18.