With the 19th National Assembly opening Wednesday, major parties moved to expel the disputed proportional representatives of the Unified Progressive Party, though they differed on focus and method.

The main opposition Democratic United Party joined the ruling Saenuri Party in demanding that Lee Seog-gi and Kim Jae-yeon resign.

“The UPP has clearly confirmed the irregularities in its primary process so the parliamentary ethics committee can look into the qualifications of Lee and Kim,” DUP interim chief Rep. Park Jie-won told reporters on Wednesday.

The party focused on alleged election fraud and tried to contain the impact of accusations that the lawmakers formerly supported North Korea.

The expulsion of a lawmaker requires a two-thirds quorum at the plenary session, according to the National Assembly law.

“The process, however, takes considerable time. I demand that Lee and Kim resign voluntarily for the sake of the parliamentary order,” he said.

Park downplayed the pro-North Korea controversies involving the two members, an issue which could negatively affect the DUP ahead of the presidential election.

“It is inappropriate for the Saenuri Party to cling to the obsolete ideological fight,” Park said.

“Those who do not qualify for the parliamentary seat should resign and so should Kim Hyung-tae and Moon Dae-sung.”

Kim and Moon quit the Saenuri Party after the general election, amid sexual assault and plagiarism allegations, respectively. The two nevertheless maintained their lawmaker status.

The DUP leader also stepped up his criticism of the UPP, hinting that the opposition alliance may be retracted.

“The DUP repeatedly urged the UPP to resolve the crisis but the party has failed,” Park said.

Park earlier snubbed the proposal by UPP interim chief Kang Ki-kab to fight the prosecution’s investigation together. He claimed that the troubled party should first deal with the vote-rigging allegations.

The Saenuri Party, on the other hand, focused on the pro-North Korea inclinations of the disputed members and claimed that they should be expelled from the parliament.

“We are seeking the DUP’s cooperation to expel Lee and Kim,” said Saenuri floor leader Lee Hahn-koo in a radio interview on Wednesday.

“Those who deny the Constitution should not be allowed into the legislature,” he also said.

While parties remained tied up with the issue, conservative civic groups also set to veto the allegedly pro-communist lawmakers.

The Korea National Council of Civic Groups, embracing some 500 right-wing organizations, issued a statement on Wednesday and pledged to monitor the six UPP members accused of being allegiant to the North Korean regime.

“We will make sure that the corresponding lawmakers do not submit bills to benefit North Korea,” said the secretary-general of the umbrella group.

“We will also hold protests to demand for their expulsion from the parliament.”

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)