What Passed: The Resolution Urging Lee Jin-sook’s Expulsion
According to reports from multiple media outlets, a resolution urging the expulsion of People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-sook passed at the National Assembly plenary session on August 26, 2026. The resolution was reported as a political resolution urging the expulsion of a lawmaker over Lee’s remarks related to the May 18 Democratization Movement.
The key point is to distinguish between the “passage of a resolution urging expulsion” and “actual loss of a lawmaker’s seat.”
Based on the materials currently confirmed, it cannot be stated definitively that passage of the resolution alone automatically removes Lee Jin-sook from the National Assembly. Therefore, the accurate wording is that “a resolution urging her expulsion passed at the National Assembly plenary session,” not that “she was expelled.”
Why It Has Become a Major Issue
The issue grew because it moved beyond a controversy over past remarks and led to the passage of a resolution at a National Assembly plenary session. The key confirmed development is that the controversy over Lee Jin-sook’s remarks related to May 18 expanded into an institutional political agenda.
According to media reports, the opposition, including the Democratic Party of Korea, also mentioned pursuing a bill intended to suspend the duties of lawmakers who make remarks distorting May 18. Because follow-up legislative discussions were reported alongside the resolution’s passage, the scope of the political dispute has widened.
Summary of the Confirmed Issues
| Issue | Confirmed details |
|---|---|
| Plenary-session action | Reports say that a resolution urging Lee Jin-sook’s expulsion passed at the National Assembly plenary session on August 26, 2026. |
| Background to the controversy | Lee Jin-sook’s remarks related to the May 18 Democratization Movement were raised as an issue. |
| Follow-up discussions | Reports say that the opposition mentioned pursuing a bill intended to suspend the duties of lawmakers who make remarks distorting May 18. |
| Important caveat | It has not been confirmed that passage of the resolution alone automatically results in the actual loss of her seat. |
Backlash from Former President Kim Young-sam’s Side Is Also Part of the Controversy
JTBC reported that Lee Jin-sook made remarks to the effect of comparing herself with former President Kim Young-sam, and that representatives of the former president strongly objected. Separate from the controversy over the May 18-related remarks, this appears to have contributed to the spread of the dispute over historical interpretation and political symbolism.
However, without directly confirming the original wording of the remarks, it is best to avoid presenting a specific sentence as a quotation. Within the currently verifiable scope, it is appropriate to summarize this as reports that she made remarks to that effect and that representatives of former President Kim Young-sam responded strongly.
What to Keep in Mind
The most important distinctions in this case are as follows.
- What passed at the National Assembly plenary session was a resolution urging Lee Jin-sook’s expulsion.
- The resolution was reported as a political resolution prompted by the controversy over remarks related to May 18.
- It should not be stated definitively that actual expulsion was finalized merely because the resolution passed.
- As a follow-up issue, lawmakers mentioned pursuing a bill intended to suspend the duties of National Assembly members who make remarks distorting May 18.
Therefore, when reviewing searches related to Lee Jin-sook, the key questions are not only “What remarks were made?” but also “What procedure did the National Assembly carry out?” and “Does that procedure have the same effect as actual expulsion?”