Seongnam City Council begins disciplinary proceedings for 'child school violence' city council member...referral to the ethics committee

Seongnam City Council in Gyeonggi Province handed over independent lawmaker Lee Young-kyung, who was required to be disciplined for his child's involvement as a perpetrator of school violence, to the Special Committee on Ethics.

Earlier, the Democratic Council of Seongnam City Council proposed a disciplinary request late last month, believing that the issue violates the "duty to maintain dignity."

The City Council's Special Committee on Ethics has decided to take disciplinary steps as lawmaker Lee's disciplinary request has been referred.

If the ethics review advisory committee, which consists of seven outsiders, recommends whether or not to take disciplinary action, the ethics committee will refer to it to make a decision.

There are four disciplinary levels determined by the ethics committee: expulsion, suspension of attendance, public apology, and warning. Even if the ethics committee decides on the level of disciplinary action, the disciplinary action will be confirmed only when it is handled at the plenary session.

Lee, who has been asked to resign, said in a personal statement before the opening of the regular plenary session held at the city council today, "I will work more carefully and maturely in my legislative activities."

Earlier, at Seohyun Elementary School in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, four students committed violence against one other student in April-June by mixing snacks and sand in the park and weighing themselves down for performing game penalties.

Lee's child was included in the perpetrator.

The education authorities held a review of the school violence committee and issued a written apology to two of the students and a class replacement, and a written apology to one less involved, four hours of service at the school, and the other.