Prosecutors Summon Kim Euigyeom as Suspect for Alleged Drinking Party in Cheongdam-dong

The prosecution summoned former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom, who raised the so-called 'Cheongdam-dong drinking party allegations,' as a suspect on the 4th.

Former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Ui-gyeom (Photo by Yonhap News)

The Criminal Division 7 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kwon Seong-hee) is investigating former lawmaker Kim, who is accused of defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, since the morning of the same day.

On his way to the prosecution, former lawmaker Kim told reporters, "The Seocho Police Station investigated for a year and decided not to prosecute at the end of last year, but Han Dong-hoon, then Minister of Justice, filed an objection, and the case was transferred to the prosecution." He added, "He handed over the police decision to the prosecution, which he supervises and commands, asking them to indict me." He also claimed, "The fact that the sitting Minister of Justice filed an objection and transferred the case to the prosecution itself is an abuse of power."

The Cheongdam-dong drinking party allegations involve President Yoon Seok-yeol and Han Dong-hoon, then Minister of Justice and now the People Power Party's presidential candidate, having a late-night drinking party with lawyers from Kim & Chang law firm in Cheongdam-dong. Former lawmaker Kim raised the allegations during the National Assembly audit in October 2022, and later the YouTube media outlet 'Citizen Press The Tam-sa' reported on it.

Candidate Han immediately denied the allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against former lawmaker Kim and The Tam-sa under the Information and Communications Network Act. Additionally, he filed a 1 billion KRW damages claim lawsuit against them.

The Seocho Police Station in Seoul sent former representative Kang Jin-gu of The Tam-sa to the prosecution in October last year, but former lawmaker Kim was not prosecuted based on parliamentary immunity. Subsequently, following the complainant's objection, former lawmaker Kim was also sent to the prosecution in November last year.