Rep. Kim Nam-guk of the Democratic Party, who has been embroiled in controversy for selling and holding
large amounts of virtual assets > < anchor, has announced that he will voluntarily leave the
party. The announcement was made ahead of the Democratic Party's renewed congress scheduled for today (14th), but we will connect with reporters who are out in the National Assembly to find out more details.

Won Jong-jin: Congressman Kim has announced his withdrawal from the party.

<Reporter>

Yes, yes, and Rep. Kim Nam-guk of the Democratic Party of Korea announced his voluntary withdrawal from the party on Facebook this morning.

Congressman Kim wrote today that he was leaving his beloved Democratic Party for a while and that he had decided that it was no longer right for him to put a burden on the party and its members.

He also said that he believes that no damage should be done to the party at such a critical time, and that as an independent member of parliament, he will face unfair political attacks to the end and reveal the truth.

He added that there has been a flurry of false and fact-based media reports over the past week, and that he will hold them legally accountable and resolutely confront them.

However, the MDP is currently conducting an ethics investigation of Rep. Kim at the party level, and there are voices within the party that he should be disciplined at the party level, not voluntarily withdrawing from the party.

Rep. Lee Won-wook, a leading non-Lee Jae-myung lawmaker, wrote on Facebook yesterday that even if Rep. Kim Nam-guk announces his withdrawal from the party, he should not be allowed to leave the party, and the party should show his self-discipline by disciplining him.

An official from the Democratic Party's House leadership also told SBS in a phone call that it is difficult to break through the situation by voluntarily withdrawing from the party now.

The MDP will hold a parliamentary plenary meeting at 4 p.m. today in which all members of the House of Representatives will participate to discuss the reform plan, and it is expected that various opinions will erupt over the situation with Rep. Kim.