South Korea’s Kim Min-seok fires ethics deputy after message alleges Jung Chung-rae faction was interfering

Kim Min-seok, leader of South Korea’s Democratic Party, dismissed the newly appointed deputy head of the party’s ethics watchdog after messages on his phone were photographed by a news camera.

The messages, sent to senior party member Park Seon-won, claimed that people associated with former party leader Jung Chung-rae were trying to influence the composition and operation of the ethics inspection team. The party said Kim had ordered Kang Min-gu’s immediate dismissal.

Kang, a professor at Myongji University’s industry-academic cooperation foundation, had been appointed deputy head the previous day. In the messages, he referred to Jang In-jae, who had served as deputy head during Jung’s leadership, and alleged that Jang’s background as a former prosecution investigator was being used to pressure Kim Ki-pyo, the current head of the watchdog.

Kang also wrote that he had not received instructions to report to the central party office and asked Park to speak to the secretary-general. He said the organization needed to be taken over quickly. The photograph of Park’s phone showed no reply from Park.

The Democratic Party’s ethics inspection team is a body directly under the party leader. It investigates possible violations of the party constitution, regulations and ethical code, and handles broader disciplinary inspections and education. The party leader appoints its head after consulting the 최고위원회의, while the deputy is appointed on the head’s recommendation. Kim Ki-pyo became head on the 21st of the previous month.