The Democratic Party of Korea held a denunciation rally Thursday and said it would submit a resolution calling for the expulsion of People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-suk after she proceeded with a public forum in the National Assembly aimed at "reexamining" the May 18 pro-democracy uprising.
Han Byung-do, the Democratic Party's acting leader and floor leader, convened the rally at Rotunda Hall in the National Assembly, denouncing the PPP for obstructing livelihood legislation and distorting the history of the May 18 uprising. "If she goes ahead with the event, Rep. Lee Jin-suk has no right to be a member of the National Assembly," Han said. "The Democratic Party will immediately submit a resolution calling for her expulsion."
Han said the co-organizing group, Saeyeoksa Gungmin Undong — a civic movement that has sought to revise the historical narrative of the uprising — along with those attending the event, were "the very people who have denigrated the very foundations of May 18 under the grandiose name of academic research." He called on Lee to cancel the event and "prostrate herself before the people."
Han also turned his criticism toward National Assembly Library Director Hwang Jeong-geun, saying he would demand to know "whether Hwang, as chair of the National Assembly's steering committee, tacitly permitted this event that undermines the spirit of May 18." Han added that the party would tighten regulations on venue rentals to prevent similar incidents.
Rep. Park Gyun-taek, who represents Gwangsan-gu Gap in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, criticized Lee for "inviting far-right forces that defend insurrection into the National Assembly and making the May 18 pro-democracy uprising a target of political strife and distortion," calling it a betrayal of basic human decency and moral obligation.
Park said Lee was "someone who cannot be rationally reformed" and urged the PPP leadership to "expel Lee Jin-suk from the party immediately." He also called on National Assembly Speaker Jo Jeong-sik to "form a special ethics committee so that disciplinary action against Lee Jin-suk can be taken at the Assembly level."
Lee held the public forum, titled "Reexamining the May 18 Pro-Democracy Movement," that afternoon at the National Assembly Library's main auditorium, co-organized with Saeyeoksa Gungmin Undong. In her welcoming remarks, Lee said, "It has been 46 years since May 18 occurred, but it is still difficult to speak openly about what May 18 means."
She went on to ask "whether it is desirable, in a free Republic of Korea, for May 18 to become a sacred, untouchable subject," adding that she particularly hoped "the public could be told specifically what contributions the May 18 merit holders have made" — a reference to those officially recognized for their role in the uprising.
The PPP appeared to distance itself from the forum. Chief PPP spokesperson Choi Bo-yun told reporters Thursday that it was "a personal discussion forum unrelated to the party's position." A PPP official said the party had "expressed concern at the party level."
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