Democratic Party: “Kim Taegyu, Lee Jinsook and Joo Jinwoo, three disgraceful ‘siblings’... Must resign immediately”

Democratic Party’s First-Term Lawmakers’ Group Issues Statement
Also Calls for Internal People Power Party Disciplinary Action
Han Byung-do: "People Power Party Must Fulfill Its Responsibilities as a Political Party"

First-term lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea called for the resignation of People Power Party first-term lawmakers Kim Tae-gyu, Lee Jin-sook and Joo Jin-woo. They said they were considering filing a complaint with the National Assembly Ethics Committee and also demanded disciplinary action by the People Power Party leadership.

On Oct. 13, the Democratic Party’s first-term lawmakers’ group issued a statement calling Kim, Lee and Joo “three first-term People Power Party lawmakers who have turned the parliamentary audit into a ‘contest of outrageous remarks’” and demanding that they “resign immediately.”

Han Byeong-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, delivers opening remarks at a meeting on responding to the parliamentary audit at the National Assembly on Oct. 13, 2026. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju

On Kim, the group said, “From the first day of the parliamentary audit, he turned the Legislation and Judiciary Committee into an arena for political strife,” adding that he “did not hesitate to make outrageous remarks, even dragging conspiracy theories into the death of the late President Roh Moo-hyun.” It also said, “After his right to speak was suspended for shouting and making mocking remarks, he showed no remorse; instead, he pointed his finger at the committee chair and raised his voice in the hallway.”

On Lee, the group said, “She has gone too far,” adding that she “brought a portrait of the sitting president into the National Assembly and then committed an appalling act by visiting the graves of the president’s parents to take a proof photo.”

On Joo, the group criticized him for “using even an accident that caused multiple casualties as a subject for political attacks,” calling it “a textbook example of third-rate politics that puts the safety and lives of the public second to political strife.” It added, “Yesterday, he even posted on social media what appeared to imply the president’s death,” calling it “an utterly unforgivable and heinous act.”

The Democratic Party’s first-term lawmakers said, “We can no longer recognize as members of the National Assembly the ‘three first-term People Power Party lawmakers who have disgraced human decency,’ having not only trampled on the constitutional order and democracy but also lost even the most basic sense of human morality.” They demanded that the lawmakers “bow down and apologize to the public immediately, and resign from their National Assembly seats.”

They said, “We will consider all measures available under the National Assembly Act, including filing a complaint with the National Assembly Ethics Committee, and respond responsibly to ensure that the parliamentary audit can fulfill its proper role.”

They also urged the People Power Party leadership to respond. The Democratic Party first-term lawmakers told the leadership to “initiate party disciplinary proceedings and join the immediate expulsion of the lawmakers,” adding, “The People Power Party leadership must also state its position responsibly on the remarks and actions of its lawmakers, verify the facts and promptly begin disciplinary proceedings in accordance with the party constitution and rules.”

Earlier, Democratic Party floor leader Han Byeong-do also named Lee and Joo at a meeting on responding to the parliamentary audit, criticizing the People Power Party’s conduct as “nothing short of a contest in outrageous remarks.” Han said, “In Lee Jin-sook and Joo Jin-woo’s contest of baseless, outrageous remarks, both the dignity of lawmakers and the bounds of political conduct are crumbling.” He added, “Their shallow scheme to raise their profiles through lowbrow noise marketing that does nothing to help people’s lives will no longer work.” He urged the People Power Party to “stop turning a blind eye to the conduct of the two lawmakers and fulfill its responsibilities as a political party.”

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