The Democratic Party of Korea said it will file a disciplinary motion in the National Assembly against People Power Party lawmaker Kim Tae-gyu, who said that the actions of the late former President Chun Doo-hwan — sentenced to life imprisonment over the Dec. 12 military mutiny and the May 18 insurrection — were "not an insurrection."
"Yesterday, Rep. Kim Tae-gyu, a former judge, said that neither Yoon Suk-yeol nor Chun Doo-hwan committed insurrection," Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do said at a policy coordination meeting at the National Assembly on Oct. 1. "That is a remark that directly denies the Constitution, and a challenge to history and to the public."
"How can anyone shield and defend dictators who turned their guns on the people for the sake of their own power?" Han said. "If such people remain lawmakers, they will defend it again even if someone once more turns guns on the people for power." He added: "This is a crisis for South Korea's democracy, and it is humiliating and shameful just to serve in the legislature alongside them. I ask the People Power Party: if you have not truly resolved to become the 'Insurrection Power Party,' apologize to the public immediately."
Kim Han-kyu, the Democratic Party's chief deputy floor leader for policy, said: "We will not tolerate this insult to the people who remember Chun Doo-hwan's insurrection. The Democratic Party will swiftly file a disciplinary motion against Rep. Kim Tae-gyu."
Kim Tae-gyu made the remark a day earlier on a YouTube broadcast. Asked whether Chun's actions amounted to insurrection during a discussion of "Assassin(s)," a film at the center of a dispute over historical distortion, he replied, "I don't think so."
When the host pressed him on whether he was denying it despite a court ruling, Kim said, "I find it hard to readily agree with flatly calling it an insurrection, and it is an area that requires further historical assessment." He gave a similar answer regarding former President Yoon Suk-yeol's Dec. 3 declaration of emergency martial law, indicating he did not consider it insurrection either.
Chun Joon-ho, the Democratic Party's chief deputy floor leader for operations, said: "It is hard to believe these are the words of a Legislation and Judiciary Committee member who was once a judge. It is an outrageous statement that makes you doubt your ears." He noted that "this is a case in which the Supreme Court's full bench recognized charges including leading a military rebellion, leading an insurrection and murder for the purpose of insurrection, and finalized a life sentence." He then called on the People Power Party to "expel Rep. Kim Tae-gyu immediately."
Kim Han-kyu also pointed to Kim Tae-gyu's role as the People Power Party's chief floor spokesperson. "These remarks were made publicly by the chief floor spokesperson, so is this the official position of the People Power Party?" he said. "Remove Rep. Kim Tae-gyu from all party posts at once and proceed with internal disciplinary procedures."
Lee Ju-hee, a Democratic Party floor spokesperson, told reporters after the meeting: "Our position is that someone who now makes outrageous remarks denying a conclusion clearly established in South Korea's constitutional history can never serve as the spokesperson of a legitimate political party. The People Power Party must expel and discipline him."
