Lee Jun-seok, Responds to Petition for His Expulsion, "Such a Thing Will Not Happen"

Lee Jun-seok, a lawmaker from the Reformist Party, stated that he does not believe “such a thing will happen,” despite a public petition calling for his expulsion from the National Assembly surpassing 500,000 signatures.

On the 11th, in an interview with the Joongang Ilbo, Lee mentioned, “Even most Democratic Party lawmakers do not agree with the expulsion.”

During the 21st presidential election, Lee Jun-seok made controversial remarks during the third televised debate on the 27th of last month.

He faced criticism for distorting a hate expression posted by the son of the Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung on an internet bulletin board, which he used as a basis for questioning regarding the candidate’s family, leading to an inappropriate depiction of ‘sexual violence against women’ during the nationwide live debate.

Nationally broadcast debate featuring 'sexual violence depiction against women's bodies'

The public petition surpassed 500,000 signatures, with no precedent for a lawmaker's expulsion.

Following strong criticisms of his statements, a petition titled “Petition for the Expulsion of Lawmaker Lee Jun-seok” was registered on the National Assembly’s official petition site on the 4th.

The petition met the review requirements (more than 50,000 signatures within 30 days) within just one day on the 5th, and by the 10th, it had garnered explosive support, surpassing 500,000 signatures.

However, due to the impact of the holiday and the elections for the floor leaders of the Democratic Party and People Power Party, the National Assembly has yet to start its review process.

According to the Constitution, expulsion of a lawmaker requires approval from at least two-thirds of the sitting members of the National Assembly.

There has been no case where a lawmaker has been expelled through a public petition process up to this point.

Lee Jun-seok's "Sincere Apology" vs Petitioner's Criticism of "Verbal Sexual Violence"

In response to criticism that his comments during the third televised debate were "excessive," Lee explained, "I made those remarks to inform the public about the excessive hate speech by the son of candidate Lee Jae-myung and to hear this candidate’s position," and added, "I offered a sincere apology to those who felt uncomfortable."

However, this response has been pointed out as being far from the purpose of the petition calling for his expulsion, which has garnered over 500,000 signatures. The petitioner, identified as Im, described his remarks as "an unprecedented act in constitutional history that uses women's bodies as a political attack instrument." In addition, he criticized saying, "In the presence of all sovereign citizens watching, this lawmaker committed verbal sexual violence by depicting violence against women's bodies to attack his rival candidate." The petitioner stated, "This lawmaker's behavior undermines the trust of sovereign citizens and seriously harms the dignity of a National Assembly member."

An unprecedented act in constitutional history that uses women's bodies as a political attack instrument

Image source: JTBC, Lee Jun-seok, the Reformist Party presidential candidate, prepares for the third debate at the MBC studio in Sangam, Seoul, on the 27th of last month. / News1, News1