SEOUL, A civic group announced a list of 34 sitting and former lawmakers that it claimed should be excluded from nominations for April’s general elections for poor parliamentary performances and ethical reasons.

The Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice said it compiled the list based on the number of legislative proposals, frequency of absences from parliamentary sessions and ethical issues, including involvement in scandals and excessive real estate or stock holdings.

The group conducted an analysis between May and November last year of related data of all those elected to the current 21st-term National Assembly in 2020, including those who later lost their seats due to various reasons.

“If the lawmakers, whom we determined to be unfit for nomination, end up being nominated, we will hold their parties responsible,” said Kim Seong-dal, an official at the group.

Three of the 34 people — Reps. Kim Tae-ho, Kim Hee-kuk and Park Duk-hyum of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) — were deemed unfit for nom
inations for not only one but for two reasons, the group said.

Rep. Kim Tae-ho had the highest absence rate of 19.9 percent for general parliamentary sessions and 26.5 percent for parliamentary committee meetings, the group said.

The other two had issues ranging from high absence rates to involvement in scandals, it added.

The group also identified another group of 72 people that it claimed should be closely vetted for potential problems with their qualifications.

The group said it will deliver the lists to the PPP and the main opposition Democratic Party in person.

Source: Yonhap News Agency