Jung Jeom-sik Calls for Leniency in Disciplinary Action Against Kwon Young-jin

Jung Jeom-sik, the floor leader of the People Power Party, expressed on July 28 his hope for leniency regarding disciplinary action against Kwon Young-jin, who grabbed Jung's collar during a dispute over the allocation criteria for the National Assembly's standing committees. Jung stated, "It is difficult to evaluate after the Ethics Committee has initiated disciplinary procedures," while appearing on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show.'

Jung noted that Kwon had officially apologized, which he personally accepted. He commented on the Supreme Council's suggestion for the highest level of discipline, including expulsion, saying, "I personally hope for leniency. How can we talk about expelling a member of our assembly?"

Regarding the Ethics Committee's initiation of disciplinary procedures against Kwon, Jung mentioned, "If asked for my opinion as a victim, I would express it. It is also important to consider the opinion of former floor leader Song Eon-seok, who was also grabbed by Kwon at the time."

On the first trial ruling against former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who received a suspended prison sentence for disseminating false information, Jung remarked, "This is just the first trial. There are still the second and third trials to come," adding that the legal principles surrounding the crime of disseminating false information are quite complex.

He further stated, "The Democratic Party is more problematic," referring to the case of Lee Jae-myung, who was convicted in the first trial, acquitted in the second, and had his case sent back for retrial with a guilty intent. Jung urged the courts to expedite the five ongoing trials against President Lee.

In response to the Democratic Party's plan to address the abolition of supplementary investigation rights in the upcoming plenary session on July 30, Jung argued, "The Democratic Party has already established a firm stance on the prosecution's right to initiate investigations. Even if they make a concession, they must ultimately recognize supplementary investigation rights for cases referred by judicial police officers."

He warned that failing to recognize supplementary investigation rights for referred cases would limit prosecutors to merely acting as preliminary judges, unable to decide whether to forward cases. Jung expressed concern that if only the right to request supplementary investigations is asserted, it could lead to issues such as case delays, prolonged processing, and inadequate victim relief, ultimately harming the public.