"Allegations of Affair and Illegitimate Child with Lee Jae-myung? 'Patience Has Reached Its Limit'... Former Secretary Kim Hyun-ji Sues Netizens"

Kim Hyunji "Beyond the Limit of Patience, Cannot Overlook"

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Former Gyeonggi Province Secretary Kim Hyun-ji's side has filed complaints with the police against about 40 netizens for spreading rumors about an extramarital affair with Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung.

Kim's side submitted complaints to the Bundang Police Station on the 15th and 16th, accusing them of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.

According to the complaint, netizen A posted in a KakaoTalk group chat on the 12th, "It is reported that Lee Jae-myung's wife suffered a fracture in the ankle after a marital fight and was sutured at a plastic surgery clinic. The cause is said to be the exposure of a relationship with another secretary named Kim. (The relationship with Kim Hyun-ji) was discovered by Kim Hye-kyung."

The post by A also included claims that there is a child born out of wedlock between the candidate and former Secretary Kim.

In response, former Secretary Kim stated, "It is as if the post leads people to believe that I have an illegitimate child with the candidate through an extramarital affair and that the candidate assaulted his spouse during a marital fight caused by the exposure of this relationship. This is a clear falsehood and does not correspond to the truth, infringing upon my social value and reputation."

She added, "As an ordinary mother in South Korea who forms a family and raises children, I cannot tolerate the serious defamation caused by the spread of false information simply because I worked as Secretary to Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung. I will do my best to prevent recurrence through legal action for the future of our children."

Furthermore, she said, "I will not tolerate some YouTubers who consider sensational fake news as a means to make money," and "I plan to file additional civil lawsuits regarding the serious falsehoods."

Meanwhile, former Secretary Kim, who worked with candidate Lee in civic movements in Seongnam City, served as the secretary-general of the Seongnam Participatory Autonomy Citizens' Coalition, where Lee was the executive chairman, and later served as Secretary during Lee's tenure as Governor of Gyeonggi Province.