On the 25th, a civic group filed a complaint with the police, stating that the so-called 'Cheongdam-dong drinking party' allegations raised by Kim Eui-gyeom, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, are false. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] A civic group has filed a complaint with the police, claiming that the so-called ‘Cheongdam-dong drinking party’ allegations raised by Kim Eui-gyeom, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, have defamed the honor of Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice.
The civic group, Liberty Korea Patriotic Corps, announced at 12 p.m. on the 25th in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s civil affairs office, “We are filing a complaint against Representative Kim for defamation by false facts,” adding, “Representative Kim repeatedly spread malicious false information about Minister Han and acted with a clearly impure and intentional purpose.”
They stated, “Representative Kim claimed at the National Assembly inspection that Minister Han attended a drinking party, which may not have even existed, at 3 a.m., drinking and singing along,” and “Considering the gravity and spread of these remarks, he should have verified the facts and spoken cautiously, but he did not hesitate to make provocative statements.”
They continued, “Representative Kim, who previously served as the Blue House spokesperson and currently holds the position of Democratic Party spokesperson, is in a position of considerable influence, yet he spread false information at a live-broadcasted National Assembly inspection session, citing ‘receiving a tip’ as a caveat,” emphasizing, “The nature of this offense is extremely serious.”
The group demanded a swift and thorough investigation by the authorities, stating, “If it is clear that the false information was knowingly spread, it should be considered outside the scope of parliamentary immunity.”
At the comprehensive inspection of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee the previous day, Representative Kim stated that “Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon held a drinking party on July 19 at a high-end bar in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, accompanied by about 30 lawyers from Kim & Chang.”
In response, Minister Han denied the allegations, saying, “Using something not even worthy of a rumor to insult a cabinet member at the National Assembly inspection is unacceptable,” and “I will stake any public office, including the Minister of Justice position, on this matter.”
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