The Democratic Party of Korea on the 6th approved a disciplinary action equivalent to expulsion against independent lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae, who left the party over allegations of sexual harassment.
Han Dong-su, chairperson of the Democratic Party Ethics Tribunal, told reporters this after finishing a related meeting at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, that day.
Chairperson Han said, "If a person leaves the party to avoid discipline after disciplinary proceedings have begun, the person is to receive a disciplinary action equivalent to expulsion," and added, "We approved a disciplinary action equivalent to expulsion for Representative Jang."
Chairperson Han, however, noted, "If this is called an expulsion disposition, it could be misleading."
According to the Democratic Party's party rules, those who leave the party to evade discipline receive a penalty equivalent to expulsion and cannot be readmitted for five years.
Representative Jang was accused and investigated by police for allegedly sexually harassing a female aide at a restaurant in Yeouido in Oct. 2024. While he was under review for discipline by the party's Ethics Tribunal, he left the party on the 2nd of last month after the police investigation review committee announced that "the sexual harassment charge is recognized."