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| Rep. Lee Un-ju of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party prepares for a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, Wednesday. / Yonhap |
By Park Ji-won
Rep. Lee Un-ju of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party (BMP) may face punitive measures from her party for making slanderous remarks against party Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu.
Several BMP members and chiefs of BMP's regional branches have referred Lee to the party's ethics committee, demanding disciplinary measures including expulsion from the party, the party said Wednesday.
The move came after Lee openly criticized Sohn in a YouTube clip released on March 20 over his campaign strategies concerning a by-election in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.
"He is so stubborn that anyone talking to him may feel like they're talking to a wall," she said. "He is acting like a loser."
Her comments triggered a backlash from Sohn's aides and party officials. Seven party members including Jung Chan-taek, chief of the party's Yeongdeungpo branch, issued a statement in response. "Publicly ridiculing the party chief is tantamount to jeopardizing the people of Korea. She deserves criticism, and harsh disciplinary measures," it said.
"Lee should take responsibility for her behavior. We urge her to give up her seat and leave the party."
There have been rumors that Lee, an ardent critic of President Moon Jae-in, may defect to the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP). In December, Lee even participated in an LKP meeting without the knowledge of party leadership, and Sohn openly gave her a warning about this. Then Lee criticized Sohn for having no concrete political philosophy as party leader.
On Tuesday, a BMP spokeswoman called Lee a "garbage thrower" in a commentary. Rep. Lim Jae-hun of the BMP also urged Lee to apologize to Sohn, or leave the party.
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