Opposition Lawmaker Apologizes After Grabbing Floor Leader's Collar

Rep. Kwon Young-jin of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) apologized Friday after he reportedly grabbed the party's floor leader by the collar during a heated protest over the assignment of parliamentary committee chairs.

Rep. Kwon, a two-term lawmaker, posted the apology in the party's online group chat room, saying his words and actions were entirely his fault "regardless of the reason."

"I was deeply disrespectful to floor leader Jeong and undermined his leadership," he said. "I also extend my deep apologies to fellow lawmakers, party members and the public who may have felt disappointed or distressed by the incident."

Rep. Kwon was among some PPP lawmakers who visited the office of PPP floor leader Jeong Jeom-sig on Thursday afternoon, taking issue with the party's pick of committee chairs and demanding an explanation for the decision.

He reportedly shouted at Rep. Jeong and grabbed the floor leader by the collar while he was protesting.

Jeong skipped a floor leadership meeting he was scheduled to preside over earlier in the day.

Rep. Jung Hee-yong, the party's secretary-general, strongly condemned the incident during a party meeting.

"A lawmaker who was dissatisfied with the committee assignments grabbed the floor leader by the collar while protesting, and reportedly grabbed the former floor leader by the collar when he tried to stop them," he said, stressing that violence should not be justified under any circumstances.

He apologized to party members and the public and vowed to take stern action against any act that "undermines the order of the party so that such an incident does not happen again."

The labor union representing PPP secretariat employees also issued a statement expressing regret over the incident.

PPP chief spokesperson Park Sung-hoon hinted at the possibility of taking disciplinary action against Kwon.

"There is consensus that this issue should not be resolved simply with an apology," he said. "As soon as a request for disciplinary action is filed, I believe the party will take firm and stern measures."

The National Assembly elected the chairs of six standing committees allocated to the PPP on Thursday, ending weeks of bipartisan deadlock over the formation of the parliamentary committees.