The Democratic Party of Korea is engulfed in an unexpected controversy and is in an awkward mood. Just as it sought to ramp up a judicial reform drive to mark the first anniversary of the Dec. 3 martial-law crisis, floor deputy chief for operations Moon Jin-seok's "personnel solicitation" flap and Rep. Jang Kyung-tae's "sexual harassment allegation" erupted in succession. Concerns are being raised inside and outside the party that the momentum for reform could weaken. The Democratic Party is responding with a "low posture" to the controversy and is closely watching public opinion.
On the 4th, the Democratic Party leadership issued a stern warning over Rep. Moon Jin-seok's "personnel solicitation" controversy. However, it drew a line against the possibility of substantive disciplinary action. Floor spokesperson Moon Geum-ju told reporters at the National Assembly that day, "All I heard was that (Floor Leader Kim Byung-kee) issued a stern warning, and I have not heard anything separately regarding (Moon's) position," adding that "nothing has been discussed" about referring Moon to the ethics inspection team.
The controversy erupted after a media camera captured Rep. Moon on the 2nd sending a text message during a plenary session to presidential office secretary for public digital communication Kim Nam-guk recommending Hong Seong-beom, a Korea Automobile Manufacturers Associatio (KAMA) Deputy Minister, for the association's chairmanship. Critics said this ran counter to the Democratic Party's emphasis on the principle of "fair personnel appointments." For the second day, Moon did not appear in public, citing health reasons.
That afternoon, he issued only a short three-line statement saying, "I have nothing to say even if I had ten mouths. I apologize for my inappropriate conduct. I will be more careful with my words and actions going forward." Kim Nam-guk, the presidential secretary who received Moon's text, submitted his resignation to the presidential office that day, and it was immediately accepted.
The spreading of sexual harassment allegations against Rep. Jang Kyung-tae is also creating an uncomfortable current for the ruling party. Jang has been accused on a charge of "quasi-forcible molestation" for allegedly sexually harassing a female secretary from another lawmaker's office at a restaurant in Yeouido, Seoul, in Oct. last year. After leader Jung Chung-rae ordered an ethics inspection team probe on the 27th of last month regarding the allegation, the Democratic Party has said it would "first wait for the results of the investigation" and has taken no further action.
Amid this, Jang filed a countersuit against the woman who accused him, citing the Criminal Act offense of false accusation, and is responding firmly. At a meeting of The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee the day before, opposition lawmakers argued that it was a "conflict of interest" for Jang to serve on the committee while under investigation, sparking a clash between the ruling and opposition parties. During the process, Jang pointed his finger at an opposition lawmaker, saying, "The (sexual harassment) report is fabricated." Seo Young-kyo, a Democratic Party lawmaker from the same party, remarked, "Didn't you see that woman (the victim) put her hand on (Jang's) shoulder?" prompting a controversy over "secondary victimization."
Faced with these headwinds, the Democratic Party leadership is responding quietly but remains in a difficult position. As the party pushes hard to pass judicial reform bills with contentious elements, such as a law to establish a panel dedicated to insurrection cases, within the year, the emergence of morality risks involving party figures is dispersing public attention. A ruling camp official said, "If the party leadership fails to respond appropriately to this controversy, there could be a backlash and the party may lose momentum for reform."
The People Power Party is ratcheting up its offensive using the ruling party lawmakers' "morality risks" as leverage. At a supreme council meeting that day, floor leader Song Eon-seog said, "The personnel solicitation text message recently confirmed shows that Kim Hyun-ji, the first presidential secretary for aides to the president, as a key power broker in the presidential office, appears to wield influence even over appointments of private association heads," labeling it an "appointment abuse scandal." He urged, "The presidential office and the ruling party must immediately hold those responsible for the appointment abuse scandal accountable and promptly announce measures to prevent a recurrence."
The People Power Party said that day it would file complaints against four people—Rep. Moon, Secretary Kim, Secretary Kim, and Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik—on charges including abuse of authority to interfere with the exercise of rights and violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. It also pressed that it would mobilize all means, including National Assembly hearings and a parliamentary inquiry, to get to the bottom of the matter.
The party's central women's committee gathered that afternoon in front of Rep. Jang Kyung-tae's district office in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Holding a press conference, they said, "The Democratic Party claims it has ordered an internal fact-finding probe, but it is just stalling for time," and urged, "Do not condone with further silence; actively work to uncover the facts of the case to root out power-based sex crimes."