[Breaking] Motion to Expel 'May 18th Distortion' Lawmaker Lee Jin-suk Passes Plenary Session Led by Ruling Bloc

A motion to expel a lawmaker from the ruling People Power Party, Lee Jin-suk, has passed a plenary session of the National Assembly, driven by the main opposition Democratic Party. The vote saw 157 lawmakers in favor, one against, and one abstention. The motion was triggered by Lee's controversial forum held on August 13th, titled 'Revisiting the May 18th Democratization Movement.' During the forum, some participants reportedly characterized the Gwangju Uprising as a 'riot' and suggested isolating the region internally and externally to resolve issues related to it, sparking significant backlash.

The People Power Party vehemently opposed the motion's swift passage, boycotting the vote and leaving the plenary session. They argued that the resolution carries no legal binding power and that the actual expulsion of a lawmaker requires a review by the National Assembly's special committee on ethics followed by approval from at least two-thirds of all lawmakers. Lee Jin-suk herself was seen leaving the session with a stern expression amidst the political turmoil.

Despite the boycott, some lawmakers from the ruling party, identified as belonging to the 'Han Dong-hoon faction,' including Han Jia, Kim Ye-ji, and Woo Jae-joon, participated in the vote. The Democratic Party, which spearheaded the motion, proceeded with the vote after proposing it, highlighting the deep divisions and political tensions surrounding the interpretation and commemoration of the May 18th Gwangju Uprising. The incident underscores the ongoing sensitivity and political significance of this historical event in South Korea.

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