National Assembly Steering Committee Passes Confirmation Hearing Act for Serious Crime Agency Chief... 'Lee Jinsook Expulsion Motion' Up for Further Discussion

Han Byungdo: "If Discussions Do Not Conclude by Tomorrow, I Will Present the Resolution by Chair's Authority"

On the 24th, the National Assembly Steering Committee passed a revision to the National Assembly Act that would include the newly established Chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, created as part of prosecutorial reform, as a subject for parliamentary confirmation hearings.

The resolution calling for the expulsion of Lee Jin-sook, a People Power Party lawmaker at the center of controversy for allegedly distorting and demeaning the May 18 Democratic Uprising, is scheduled to be tabled after discussions between the ruling and opposition parties by the 25th.

On this day, the committee held a plenary meeting at the National Assembly and passed the amendment to the National Assembly Act based on bipartisan agreement. An amendment to the Personnel Hearing Act was also approved to allow the president and others to request the National Assembly to submit a report on the outcome of the personnel hearing if the National Assembly fails to hold a hearing for the Chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency within the statutory period.

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Donghae Lee = On the 24th, Han Byungdo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party and chairperson of the National Assembly Steering Committee, is processing bills including the revision of the National Assembly Act to include the Chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency as a subject of personnel hearings at the plenary meeting of the Steering Committee held at the National Assembly. 2026.8.24 eastsea@yna.co.kr (End)

That day, lawmakers from both parties exchanged sharp remarks over the resolution calling for Lee’s expulsion.

Cheon Jun-ho, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party and ruling party secretary of the committee, said, “Today (the 24th), Representative Lee is going so far as to file a defamation suit against Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, which is truly brazen. We cannot simply overlook this issue (the controversy over belittling May 18). I urge the committee to table the resolution calling for Lee’s expulsion and for the Steering Committee to fulfill its responsibility in this matter.”

He also criticized the People Power Party, stating, “After the forum, the People Power Party leadership acknowledged it was inappropriate and said they hoped it would not be repeated. However, they took no action, seemingly out of regard for the far-right, which in effect encourages historical distortion. In particular, it appears that Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, wants only the far-right to remain in the party.”

In response, Kim Seung-soo, Senior Deputy Floor Leader and opposition secretary of the Korean National Assembly Steering Committee, countered, “Democratic Party lawmakers have also engaged in repeated slanderous remarks.”

Lee Sang-hwi, a People Power Party lawmaker, stated, “Being a member of parliament is not just for the distinguished; even those less favored can represent the people—that’s democracy. It’s a misrepresentation to characterize Lee’s hosting of the forum as far-right, or claim that the People Power Party denies May 18. The National Assembly is the hall of the people’s will. Anyone is welcome to speak here.”

Han Byungdo, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party and chairperson of the committee, called for the secretaries of both parties to consult on the parliamentary schedule. He said, “It is deeply unfortunate that debates like this are still happening in South Korea. If the parties do not reach an agreement, I will table the resolution under my authority as chairperson according to the National Assembly Act tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Representative Lee Jin-sook announced she would file a defamation complaint that day against Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok for referring to her as a ‘female Hitler.’ Lee claims that Kim’s remarks—made at a joint Democratic Party rally for Jeonnam and Gwangju on the 15th, in which he declared, ‘Neither a female Chun Doo-hwan nor a female Hitler will be allowed to set foot in South Korea’—constituted a malicious personal attack.

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