[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Chang-won] The Jeju Provincial Party of the People Power Party issued a statement on the 26th, urging the dismissal of two aides to Kim Han-gyu, a member of the National Assembly for Jeju-si Eul from the Democratic Party of Korea, stating that “amid heightened awareness due to the Sindang Station stalking murder case, these two aides were involved in past stalking crimes and secondary victimization.”
The People Power Party Jeju Provincial Party cited multiple media reports, saying, “A, an aide to the current Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Han-gyu, was previously a party official of the Justice Party and was disciplined with a three-year suspension of party membership in 2017 for stalking and committing drunken violence, along with requirements to complete a gender equality program and a restraining order against the victim.”
They added, “Another aide, B, was subject to a pay cut for committing secondary victimization in the same case, and it has been revealed that these two have since transferred their party affiliation to the Democratic Party and are currently working together in Kim Han-gyu’s office.”
They emphasized, “The decision document from the Justice Party’s disciplinary committee at the time stated that aide A abused public duties as a pretext to force private meetings, verbally abused the victim with unspeakable insults, and severely escalated drunken violence by hitting the wall.”
The People Power Party Jeju Provincial Party argued, “This is an act that forgets the responsibilities of a lawmaker representing the region and raises serious concerns about a lack of morality among many people,” adding, “In a situation where nationwide public opinion is boiling over stalking crimes, Kim and related parties who consistently defend these aides with double standards are facing growing criticism from the residents.”
They also stated, “The salaries of the two aides who committed stalking crimes and secondary victimization are paid with taxpayers’ money,” urging, “Kim should no longer defend them, dismiss them as soon as possible, and apologize to the residents for the sake of the citizens nationwide who are anxious due to the ongoing stalking crimes.”
Meanwhile, lawmaker Kim Han-gyu responded to the allegations of his aides’ involvement in stalking crimes, saying, “I confirmed after hiring that the aides were disciplined about five years ago by another party for violating party rules,” and apologized to the residents of Jeju, adding, “We will prepare measures to prevent recurrence at the office level.”
Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Chang-won baekok@asiae.co.kr
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