“Ethics Committee, Direct Investigation Without Audit Committee”
“It was not possible to refer the case to disciplinary action.”
Kim Cheol-geun, head of the People’s Power Party representative, answers questions from reporters as he enters the meeting hall of the Party Central Ethics Committee held at the National Assembly for an investigation of witnesses on the 22nd. / Photo = Yonhap News
Kim Cheol-geun, head of the political affairs office of the party leader Kim Cheol-geun, who is considered to be the closest aide to Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People’s Power, said, “The People’s Power Central Ethics Committee initiated a disciplinary procedure against him for ‘violating the duty to maintain dignity in relation to the suspicion of destruction of evidence’. ” he claimed.
On the 23rd, Director Kim posted on Facebook on the 23rd, Article 9 (Function), Article 13 (Request for Investigation and Investigation, etc.), Article 23 (Initiation of Disciplinary Procedure and Person with Authority to Discipline), Article 15 (Report of Disciplinary Action) Notice of fact), etc.
Director Kim said, “The Ethics Committee can conduct a direct investigation only when a disciplinary case is directly referred after going through the procedures of the Audit Committee.” No, it was not possible to directly refer a disciplinary case.”
Director Kim said, “Nevertheless, the ethics committee violated the procedures set by the party rules and ethics committee and made me appear as a referee in the disciplinary procedure against the party representative, and then immediately treated the vocation as an investigation into me, and the procedure for submitting a disciplinary case against me. Without further ado, disciplinary proceedings were initiated immediately.”
Kim Cheol-geun, the leader of the People’s Power Party, attends the Ethics Committee on the allegation of corruption of evidence by the People’s Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the afternoon of the 22nd. / Photo = News 1
Although the Ethics Committee could not directly investigate the subject of disciplinary deliberation because there was no investigation procedure by the Audit Committee, Director Kim asserts that it is an ‘obvious violation of the procedure’ for the Ethics Committee to call him as a witness and conduct a direct investigation.
In addition, Director Kim said, “Since I have to give an opportunity to explain, the Ethics Committee must notify the subject in writing without delay when a disciplinary case is referred. “I was not given an opportunity to explain, and I only made a statement as a witness, but the disciplinary process was initiated, and this is also a violation of the procedure.”
Director Kim emphasized, “Therefore, the Ethics Committee’s initiation of disciplinary procedures against me is invalid as a violation of the Ethics Committee’s regulations.”
Yanghee Lee, Chairman of the People’s Strength Ethics Committee. / Photo = News 1
Earlier, the People’s Power Ethics Committee initiated a disciplinary procedure against Director Kim, who attended a meeting to explain the facts the day before, for ‘violating the duty to maintain dignity related to the allegation of destruction of evidence’.
Regarding the background of this judgment, Lee Yang-hee, chairman of the ethics committee, said, “The suspicion has not yet been resolved.” “I came here today (the 22nd) for cooperation, so I started disciplinary action under the belief that we should discuss it a little more in-depth.” he explained.
Chairman Lee avoided answering a question about what part of Kim’s suspicions were less resolved, saying, “We cannot tell you that.” Director Kim is under suspicion of writing a ‘700 million won investment memorandum’ with Mr.
Hong Min-seong, reporter at Hankyung.com mshong@hankyung.com
