The Democratic Party of Korea ethics tribunal has begun disciplinary proceedings against Rep. Jang Kyung-tae, who faces allegations of sexual misconduct, and Rep. Choi Min-hee, who is embroiled in controversy over congratulatory cash gifts related to her child's wedding.
According to political circles on the 29th, the party's ethics tribunal held its first meeting around 10 a.m. that day at the Yeouido headquarters in Seoul regarding the disciplinary procedures for Rep. Jang and Rep. Choi.
Ethics Tribunal Chief Han Dong-soo met with reporters in front of the headquarters around 3:20 p.m. after the meeting and said, "Disciplinary proceedings have begun, and we will conduct a review to verify the facts." The meeting was reportedly part of the process of reviewing the findings gathered on the two lawmakers. Rep. Jang and Rep. Choi did not attend.
Earlier, on the 21st, Han appeared on MBC Radio and said, "Regarding the two matters of Rep. Jang Kyung-tae's sexual misconduct case and Rep. Choi Min-hee's wedding congratulatory cash gifts allegations, the ethics tribunal chief issued an ex officio investigation order," adding, "The central party ethics tribunal chief is now also able to issue an ex officio investigation order to the ethics tribunal on those matters."
According to Article 22 of the party regulations, "When the party leader, the Supreme Council, the Party Affairs Committee, or the central party ethics tribunal chief determines that a party member has engaged in the relevant conduct, they may order an investigation by the central party or the respective city/provincial ethics tribunal." It also provides that if a city/provincial ethics tribunal does not conduct an investigation within 30 days, the central party ethics tribunal may deliberate and vote on disciplinary action directly after conducting its own investigation.
Rep. Jang is under police investigation on suspicion of sexually harassing a National Assembly aide at a restaurant in Yeouido, Seoul, in Oct. 2024. Rep. Choi sparked a conflict-of-interest controversy after reportedly holding her child's wedding at the National Assembly during last year's parliamentary audit period and receiving congratulatory cash gifts from audited agencies.