Park Jong-gyun, Gwangju Dong-gu Council Member, "Assault by Chief's Closest Aide... Preparing Strong Response"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Park Jong-gyun, a member of the Dong-gu Council in Gwangju Metropolitan City, recently expressed a firm stance on taking strong action regarding the incident in which Choi Mo, a close aide of the Dong-gu mayor, assaulted him.

On the 28th, Park stated in a press release, "I will file a lawsuit with judicial authorities against Choi for assault, insult, and property damage for undermining democracy."

Park said that on the 14th at around 9:03 PM, he was assaulted by Choi in Chungjang-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, including being verbally abused and having his collar grabbed, which led him to require hospital treatment.

He lamented, "Due to incorrect news reports portraying the incident as mutual assault between a council member and a resident, many misunderstandings arose, causing distress to my family and acquaintances."

He mentioned that this was not the first time Choi had committed 'assault.'

According to Park, Choi also assaulted or insulted multiple Dong-gu council members during the Chungjang Festival in 2016 and 2018.

During the preparation for the 21st National Assembly election in 2020, Choi verbally abused a female Dong-gu council member to the extent that she required psychiatric treatment, in a public setting where Democratic Party candidates and key elected politicians were gathered.

Park claimed, "Because Democratic Party local politicians have protected Choi, they have nurtured him into a monster," and added, "I will eliminate the dysfunctional political ecosystem in Gwangju, the sacred place of democracy, where second and third Chois monopolize public opinion and are overlooked."

Meanwhile, Choi was sent to the prosecution without detention on assault charges. Although Choi claimed mutual assault, police confirmed through nearby CCTV footage that this was not true.