The motion to remove Unified Progressive Party’s Reps. Kim Jae-yeon and Lee Seok-ki regained momentum on Monday, nearly six months after the Saenuri Party and the Democratic Party submitted the proposal.

On Monday, the parliamentary Special Committee on Ethics approved the motion to be reviewed by the subcommittee for examination of suitability for office. Once approved by the subcommittee, the motion will be put up to a vote. It requires the approval of more than two-thirds of the 300-member Assembly.

The two UPP lawmakers’ qualifications as members of the National Assembly were brought into question soon after last year’s general elections over alleged irregularities in the UPP’s primaries.

The Saenuri Party’s motion to expel Lee from the parliament over his alleged attempt to plan an armed revolt, however, remained unprocessed due to DP opposition.

The ruling party, which put forward the motion on Sept. 6, pushed for it to be processed at Monday’s meeting, but was blocked by the DP.

The main opposition called for the matter to be given more time, citing the regulation requiring more than 20 days to have passed before such proposals can be processed, and to allow the investigation to come to an end before making a decision.

By Choi He-suk  (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)