Parliamentary ethics committee passes lawmaker`s expulsion motion

The National Assembly’s Special Committee on Ethics did the right thing after years. It passed with an unanimous vote by both leading and opposition parties to expel lawmaker Shim Hak-bong who’s being investigated by prosecutors on alleged sexual assault of an insurance sales woman. The committee had been disgraced for taking no votes for disciplinary actions since the 19th National Assembly launched in May 2012. It is the first time in four years and four months that a vote in favor for disciplinary action was made since lawmaker Kang Yong-suck was voted in favor for an expel. Both lawmakers were from the leading party, but were defected from the party after they evoked criticism and were subject to voting as an independent.

The National Assembly set up Special Committee on Ethics in 1991 as a means for self purification function. However, leading and opposition parties have supported lawmakers on the same side while issues aggravated into political strife. Among 182 disciplinary action cases put on the table in the past 14 years, only 12 were passed. Key controversial issue was the belated screening of former Unified Progressive Party Rep. Lee Seok-ki. Due to neglect by the opposition parties, Lee maintained his position for 16 months since the Constitutional Court decided on dismantling the party.

Kang Yong-suck who recently dropped out of TV programs due to adultery scandal had been expelled after he made improper remarks. He told college female students, “You have to be prepared to give all if you want to succeed as an announcer,” which prompted female announcers to file suit on defamation. Immediately before the voting to decide expel, Rep. Kim Hung-o who had been National Assembly Chairman supported Kang quoting an excerpt from Bible, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” The case was voted not in favor supported by fellow members.

Shim is a married man who called a woman to a hotel room in the middle of the day when he had to attend the National Assembly Standing Committee and committed an improper act. The nature of this crime is worse than Kang, making it highly likely that he will be expelled for the first time since constitutional government was adopted in Korea due to an ethics problem. National Assembly’s ethics screening is a kind of political trial. The three screenings of judicial trial are disciplinary screening subcommittee meeting, general meeting and parliament regular session. It is shameful for a person who is expelled, and also shameful even if the person survives. One way is to step down voluntarily to unburden fellow lawmakers’ troubles. If Shim resigns there will be no by-election since the April general election isn’t far away.

tao4@donga.com