Colleagues Ask Lawmaker to Resign

Lawmakers from four opposition parties, including the Grand National Party, the Millennium Democratic Party, the Democratic Labor Party and the People First Party, sent a resolution urging the resignation of lawmaker Choi Yeon-hee to the National Assembly yesterday.

The resolution was supported by 151 opposition lawmakers, including floor leaders Lee Jae-oh of the GNP, Lee Nak-yon of the MDP and Chung Jin-suk of the PFP, and Chun Young-se, head of the group. The resolution said, “The National Assembly believes that the sexual assault incident involving Choi shows that he cannot perform the responsibilities of a National Assembly lawmaker, which is an organization representing the people and an independent constitutional institution. Thus, the National Assembly urges him to resign.”

The resolution also added, “It is legally and morally unacceptable that a representative committed sexual harassment at a time when the public is shocked by recent sexual assault cases. To restore the National Assembly’s honor and dignity, his resignation is required.” The resolution will be deliberated in a general meeting of a special session of the National Assembly in April.

Chin-Ku Lee sys1201@donga.com