Joo Jin-woo, Files Charges Against 10 Ruling Party Lawmakers…
[Seoul=Newsis] Reporters Lee Seung-jae and Han Jae-hyuk – On the 31st, lawmaker Joo Jin-woo, a contender for the leadership of the People Power Party, announced he would seek the expulsion of Democratic Party lawmakers including Jeong Cheong-rae and Park Chan-dae, who defended allegations related to President Lee Jae-myung’s alleged remittance to North Korea.
Joo announced that he would submit a resolution for expulsion later that afternoon. The targets of the expulsion are 10 members, including Jeong Cheong-rae and Park Chan-dae, who are candidates for the Democratic Party’s leadership, as well as floor leader Kim Byung-gi and members of the Political Prosecution Manipulation and Indictment Response Task Force. This includes lawmakers Han Joon-ho, Choi Ki-sang, Lee Geon-tae, Kim Gi-pyo, Park Seon-won, Yang Bu-nam, and Jeon Yong-gi.
In explaining the reason for submitting the resolution, Joo stated, “In the process of pushing for then-Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung’s visit to North Korea, Deputy Governor Lee Hwa-young secretly handed over $8 million via Ssangbangwool to the North, resulting in a significant sentence of seven years and eight months in prison being confirmed by the Supreme Court.”
He further claimed, “By secretly delivering money to North Korea, it could have been diverted to North Korea’s nuclear and missile developments, violating both UN sanctions and independent US sanctions against North Korea, leading to diplomatic and security isolation.”
Despite this, Joo criticized the creation of the “Political Prosecution Manipulation and Indictment Response Task Force” aimed at overturning the confirmed guilty verdict against Lee Hwa-young, as well as persistent attempts to nullify the ongoing trial of President Lee Jae-myung.
He concluded by stating, “The resolution for expulsion is submitted in response to those defending the acts, effectively aiding North Korea and tantamount to foreign exchange violations, of the now-convicted Lee Hwa-young.”
In response, candidate Jeong dismissed the resolution by commenting on social media, calling it “ridiculous.” Park similarly urged Joo on social media to “answer the special prosecutor’s call first before showcasing the resolution,” emphasizing that the resolution is merely a show and expressing confidence in his actions if he becomes party leader.