Ruling and opposition parties clashed on Aug. 19 at a full meeting of the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee over a parliamentary forum on the May 18 Democratization Movement hosted by People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-sook (이진숙). The dispute led to disruptions, including two suspensions of the meeting.

The Democratic Party said Lee insulted victims of the May 18 Democratization Movement and their bereaved families, and demanded she resign from the committee and step down as a lawmaker. Lee expressed regret over the party’s claims and said, "The democratization movement must not become a sacred ground."

Democratic Party members of the committee held a news conference before the meeting and called for Lee’s resignation. They said, "Lee pushed ahead with a May 18 distortion and denigration event that distorts history, tramples on national consensus and runs counter to the spirit of the times." They also demanded that the People Power Party discipline Lee and cooperate with procedures to expel her from the National Assembly.

Democratic Party lawmakers continued to demand Lee’s resignation in the meeting. Han Jun-ho (한준호), the Democratic Party’s floor leader on the committee, said, "The special law on the May 18 Democratization Movement bans the spread of false information," and added, "Does giving it the name of an academic forum grant it immunity?"

Lee Jung-heon (이정헌) told Lee that, under the pretext of re-examining the May 18 Democratization Movement, the forum even brought in the claim that "May 18 is the main culprit behind the contamination and corruption of the 1987 system." He said it "drove a nail once again into the hearts of Gwangju citizens, the bereaved families and victims of May 18."

Hwang Jung-a (황정아) of the same party said, "Those who denigrate the democratization movement as a riot and praise Chun Doo-hwan, who was responsible for the massacre, entered the National Assembly using lawmaker Lee Jin-sook as a foothold." She said, "This is not an issue between the ruling and opposition parties, but the difference between common sense and lack of common sense, normality and abnormality."

Lee said, "If we are enjoying this democracy because of the May 18 Democratization Movement, the very first value is freedom of expression."

She added, "I began my opening remarks by expressing condolences to the victims and bereaved families, especially those who died," and said, "I have no authority to control what is discussed at an academic forum."

Addressing Democratic Party lawmakers, she demanded, "If you did not like the last May 18 forum, then I ask the Democratic Party to also hold a forum at the same venue."

Choi Hyung-doo (최형두), the People Power Party’s floor leader on the committee, rejected the Democratic Party’s claims, saying, "It does not add up to say that remarks raised at an academic event are Lee’s thoughts and position, and the facts are also different."

Seo Cheon-ho (서천호) of the same party also said, "Lee did not make any remarks in person on Aug. 13," the day of the forum.