Choi Kang-wook, former head of the Democratic Party of Korea's Education and Training Institute. Yonhap News. 

The Democratic Party of Korea's Ethics Committee decided on the 16th to suspend Choi Kang-wook, former head of the Education and Training Institute, who caused controversy with remarks that constituted secondary victimization regarding the sexual misconduct case of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, from party membership for one year.

Han Dong-soo, head of the party's Ethics Committee, told reporters after a committee meeting held at the party headquarters in Yeouido, "We judged that he damaged the dignity as a party official and violated the party's ethical code," and added, "We have decided on a disciplinary action equivalent to a severe penalty."

The disciplinary action against former Director Choi is expected to be finalized after a report to the party's supreme council on the 17th.

During a lecture at an event for the Innovation Party's Daejeon and Sejong chapters last month, former Director Choi caused controversy for secondary victimization with remarks such as, "How many people actually know the facts? They are just repeating what they heard from others," in relation to an internal sexual misconduct case within the Innovation Party.

As the controversy escalated, party leader Jung Cheong-rae ordered the party's Ethics Inspection Team on the 4th to investigate the facts regarding former Director Choi. Subsequently, former Director Choi voluntarily resigned from his position as head of the party's Education and Training Institute, stating, "I will reflect and self-examine."

Yonhap News