Chung Ui-hwa, a senior adviser to the People Power Party who served as speaker of the 19th National Assembly in its latter half, submitted a petition on the 7th ahead of the Central Ethics Committee's disciplinary deliberation on Rep. Kwon Young-jin.
Through the petition, Chung said, "I believe it is the path for our party's future to cultivate talent with tolerance rather than lose people over a single mistake."
He went on, "Sternness establishes justice, but tolerance builds people," and added, "I earnestly ask that the Ethics Committee's decision on Rep. Kwon Young-jin's grave wrongdoing set our party's justice and also elevate its dignity."
Chung also said, "It is clearly a grave wrongdoing that Rep. Kwon engaged in inappropriate behavior after a dispute with the floor leader," but noted, "He immediately acknowledged the wrongdoing and issued a public apology, and I understand he personally sought forgiveness and reconciled."
He continued, "I believe that, along with principle, key virtues of politics are forgiveness and harmony," and added, "Anyone can make a mistake, but giving another chance to someone who admits wrongdoing and reflects deeply is also the dignity of politics."
Chung said, "I have observed Rep. Kwon Young-jin for a long time. In 2011, when I served as emergency committee chair, I selected first-term Rep. Kwon as a member of the emergency committee," and added, "At the time, he was the most active in proposing the introduction of a 10,000-member youth electoral college and played a decisive role in seeing it through."
He also said, "(Rep. Kwon) was elected Daegu mayor twice and has consistently worked to reform the conservative bloc and broaden its base," adding, "I believe he is a talent who will make major contributions to the party and the nation going forward."
Chung said, "This incident is clearly his wrongdoing, but I earnestly ask that you also consider his sincere apology and deep reflection, as well as his contributions to the party thus far and his future potential," and added, "I hope this Ethics Committee decision will be an opportunity to show the public the People Power Party's dignity and spirit of unity."