Overview
- Rep. Kim Byung-kee submitted a secession document on Monday, stating he would not seek reconsideration and would leave the party.
- DP Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae said the withdrawal notice arrived around 1:35 p.m. and was sent to the Seoul party committee for handling.
- Under party rules and the Political Parties Act, expelling a sitting lawmaker requires approval by a majority of DP lawmakers at a general meeting.
- The ethics committee decided on Dec. 12 to remove Kim over alleged bribery tied to candidate selection and abuse of power; he maintains his innocence and pledged to cooperate with investigations.
- Police are continuing probes into related allegations, including accusations that his wife misused local council funds in 2022 and reports that a conservative former senior police officer pressured an earlier review.