Democratic Party Launches Ethics Investigation into Rep. Choi Min-hee over Presidential Impeachment Remarks and Reporter Slur

The Democratic Party has launched an ethics investigation into Rep. Choi Min-hee, Senior Vice Chairperson, who has faced successive controversies over remarks about opposing the impeachment of President Lee Jae-myung and demeaning comments toward National Assembly photographers.

The Democratic Party leadership announced through a media statement on the night of the 12th that "Party Chair Kim Min-seok takes recent series of statements and actions by Senior Vice Chairperson Choi Min-hee seriously and has immediately ordered the party ethics investigation team to conduct an investigation." A party official explained that this is "a measure to objectively verify the facts and circumstances of the issues raised and to examine whether there are violations of the party constitution, bylaws, and ethical codes."

Presidential Office Immediately Refutes 'Anti-Impeachment' Remarks…Choi Says "I Was Confused About Timing"

The ethics investigation order came following Choi Senior Vice Chairperson's mention of "opposition to the president's impeachment," which emerged on the day. According to reporting by Sisache Journal, Choi Senior Vice Chairperson mentioned the former impeachment process of former President Yoon Suk-yeol during a closed-door party member meeting held in mid-November in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, and said "President Lee also opposed the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol.

'Let's just try to have him step down, let's try working with Han Deok-soo (then Prime Minister)' That was his position," she said. She added an explanation that this was a judgment in terms of expanding centrist support base and political power creation strategy, stating "No matter how much he is president, a president's political judgment is not always right."

Following the report, the Presidential Office immediately refuted it and expressed strong displeasure. Kang Yu-jung, Senior Spokesperson for the Presidential Office, issued a statement approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes after the report and officially denied it, saying "Rep. Choi Min-hee's remarks reported by a certain media outlet, claiming that President Lee Jae-myung opposed the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, are groundless, and we express strong regret over this."

In response to the Presidential Office's strong pushback, Choi Senior Vice Chairperson corrected her remarks through social media and apologized. Choi Senior Vice Chairperson initially explained that the remark was made while explaining party members' concerns surrounding prosecutorial reform, but subsequently posted again, saying "The President has consistently advocated for and realized the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol since the insurrection. This is a fact." She added, "There was confusion about the timing in the question-and-answer process. I apologize."

Successive Controversies Fuel Concerns Over Party-Government Relations…Leadership Moves Early to Contain Damage

Previously, on the 11th, Choi Senior Vice Chairperson posted photos showing the coverage activities of National Assembly photographers and videographers in a closed-group chat room with supporters and referred to them as 'packs of hyenas,' which sparked controversy. In response, Choi Senior Vice Chairperson held a press conference and apologized, saying the expression was inappropriate. However, the Korea Press Photographers Association is in a position to file a police complaint against her over allegations of defamation and insult.

Party Chair Kim Min-seok appeared on the party's YouTube broadcast that day, expressed regret on behalf of the party chair regarding the controversy over demeaning remarks toward journalists and made an official apology, followed by ordering an ethics investigation team investigation late at night to contain the damage. Political circles both inside and outside interpret this measure as reflecting the party leadership's sense of crisis, believing that the Senior Vice Chairperson's successive controversies could strain party-government relations.