Kim Byung-joo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is lost in thought while listening to the remarks of Supreme Council members during a supreme council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th. Yonhap News

The People Power Party and the Reform Party launched an offensive demanding the resignation of Kim Byung-joo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 27th, citing allegations of various personal misconduct.

Park Seong-hoon, the senior spokesperson, stated in a press release on the same day, "Various allegations of special treatment surrounding Floor Leader Kim are being reported daily through the media," and "Floor Leader Kim must immediately resign from his parliamentary seat with a 'resolving the problem yourself' attitude."

He added, "The 700,000 won hotel luncheon with the CEO of Coupang just before the parliamentary audit, the receipt of a 1.6 million won hotel voucher from Korean Air, the request for preferential treatment for his family's medical treatment in their constituency, the private use of his wife's operating expenses in Dongjak-gu, and the 'Daddy's Chance' allegations that he passed on his son's work at the National Intelligence Service to his aides are all serious matters that cannot be taken lightly."

He continued, "Despite this, Floor Leader Kim's response is brazen. He is showing his displeasure in an arrogant manner, saying 'Are you pouring salt on a wound?' and 'Chopping up my family,' and is distorting the truth." "He is avoiding the essence of the allegations and only posted an apology on social media as if pushed, evading responsibility by not offering a public apology or clarifying his position."

He also criticized the Democratic Party, stating, "Similar to the various controversies surrounding Assembly Member Moon Jin-suk for 'lobbying,' Assembly Member Choi Min-hee for 'daughter's wedding and congratulatory money from supervised organizations,' and Assembly Member Jang Kyung-tae for 'sexual harassment allegations,' the party has consistently protected its own members."

Park Jeong-ha, an assembly member from the same party, also wrote on Facebook regarding Floor Leader Kim, "It's not enough to just throw away his parliamentary seat, but he's saying he can't even throw away his floor leader position." "It seems the saying 'What can be stopped with a hoe cannot be stopped with a spade' originated from this. History has always shown that when one is drunk on power, rational judgment becomes impossible."

Assembly members Kim Mi-ae and Jeong Yeon-wook also wrote on Facebook respectively, "The prosecution and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials should investigate thoroughly, and the Democratic Party should quickly discipline him," and "Unimaginable low quality! Kim Byung-joo, the answer is resignation. As floor leader, and as a member of parliament."

Assembly member Ko Dong-jin posted a link to a news article related to Floor Leader Kim on Facebook and said, "It's not a recent development that politics is fourth-rate, but the reason it's now filled with errors even at that fourth-rate level is because while capable and just people, cynical about politics, avoided participation, unverified or morally deficient individuals have taken their place."

Jeong Han, the spokesperson for the Reform Party, also issued a statement saying, "If one does not regard the power entrusted by the people as their own pocket money, how can the entire family gang up to greedily suck the sweetness of power?" "Stop defiling the honor of the National Assembly any further and immediately step down from all party positions and your parliamentary seat, and await judgment from the law as a private citizen, Kim Byung-joo."

Regarding the Democratic Party, Jeong added, "Following Moon Jin-suk, Choi Min-hee, and Jang Kyung-tae, Kim Byung-joo is now also engaging in a 'corruption Olympics' almost daily with the party's prominent figures." "The Democratic Party, which has forgotten shame let alone self-purification, should now change its name to 'The With-Corruption Party' as a duty to the public."

In relation to this, the Democratic Party reiterated its stance that Party Chairman Jung Chung-rae apologized regarding this matter and that they will observe Floor Leader Kim's statement.

Kim Ji-ho, the party's spokesperson, met with reporters on the same day and said, "The party leadership feels very sorry to the public." "However, because the positions of the two parties (Floor Leader Kim and the former aide) are significantly different, the party is not in a position to know the details of this matter."

He continued, "Amidst the flood of reports, we are awaiting Floor Leader Kim's position." "There is a sentiment that Floor Leader Kim should be given time to organize his thoughts right now."

Meanwhile, one media outlet reported on the same day that a former aide had claimed that Floor Leader Kim had instructed his aides to defer his son's reserve forces training.