Park Deokheum: "Cho Kyungtae Must Stop Actions Against the Party... If You Dislike the Temple, the Monk Should Leave"

Cho Files Ethics Committee Complaint Against Representative Jang Donghyuk

Park Deokheum, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and a member of the People Power Party, addressed Cho Kyungtae, who holds the most terms (six-term lawmaker) within the party, on July 7. He stated, "If you dislike the temple, it is only natural for the monk to leave," and added, "Stop behaving cowardly, and if you do not wish to follow the values and decisions of our party, then leave the party."

Deputy Speaker Park made these comments about Assemblyman Cho on his social network service (SNS) account the same day, saying, "This is the last duty you can fulfill as a six-term politician." This response came after Assemblyman Cho rebutted allegations that he criticized Deputy Speaker Park as being part of a pro-insurrection faction during the election process for Deputy Speaker and urged ruling party lawmakers over the phone to vote against Park.

Park Deokheum, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly affiliated with the People Power Party. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Deputy Speaker Park directed his comments at Assemblyman Cho, who had participated in the party's Deputy Speaker election, stating, "It is self-contradictory to insult the party you belong to as a pro-insurrection force while seeking votes from over a hundred lawmakers and trying to become Deputy Speaker under that party's banner. You say you accept the results and shake hands in public, but behind the scenes, you defy the party's decisions and engage in activities against the party. This two-faced politics must stop."

Earlier that day, Assemblyman Cho appeared on SBS's "Kim Tae-hyun's Politics Show" and explained, "What I said was that those who sympathize with insurrection should not hold positions in the National Assembly," adding, "This is my legitimate claim." He also said, "The election for the National Assembly leadership is a free vote by lawmakers," and, "Trying to assign blame over this is an infringement on lawmakers' suffrage and voting rights."

Assemblyman Cho is currently facing disciplinary proceedings with the Central Ethics Committee over the matter. Kim Minsoo, Supreme Council member, mentioned the need for disciplinary action against Cho during the Supreme Council meeting held the previous day. In response, Assemblyman Cho stated, "The person who has truly acted against the party is Representative Jang Donghyuk, who lied to the public and party members," and announced his plan to hold a press conference tomorrow afternoon and then submit a request to the Ethics Committee for disciplinary action against Representative Jang.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.