Kwon Seong-dong on 'Kim Gyu-hyun's Lawsuit': "The Complaint Has Collapsed... Only Embarrassment Awaits"

"Criticism of 'Pretending to Be a Victim'"

Assemblyman Kwon Seong-dong at a press conference. Photo by Yonhap News

People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong criticized lawyer Kim Gyu-hyun for suing him over the disclosure of personal information, saying Kim is "pretending to be a victim." Kim is a whistleblower in the lobbying allegations to save former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Im Seong-geun.

On the 26th, Kwon posted on Facebook, "The baseless lobbying allegations, which were made out to be a huge conspiracy, have been exposed in broad daylight," adding, "In this situation, lawyer Kim is relying on the fragile 'whistleblower' label."

He continued, "Sue me as much as you want," and pointed out, "It is just a complaint that has already collapsed legally and logically. Even if you hold on to a losing complaint and try to play the media, only you will be embarrassed."

Kwon argued that Kim's claims are logically flawed. He explained, "Kim says that I violated the law by disclosing the personal information of the 'whistleblower applicant,' but I held the first press conference on the lobbying allegations on the 3rd of last month, and at that time, I did not know whether Kim was a whistleblower."

He added, "I only revealed the clear fact that lawyer C, who was in the group chat for the golf meeting of former Division Commander Im, is lawyer Kim Gyu-hyun, who is Colonel Park Jeong-hoon's lawyer and a candidate in the last general election Democratic Party primary," and explained, "After the press conference, Kim himself disclosed that he is a whistleblower."

Meanwhile, Kim sued lawmaker Kwon at the police station this morning. At a press conference held in front of the civil affairs office of the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul, he stated, "The purpose of lawmaker Kwon disclosing my personal information as a whistleblower is clear," and explained the reason for submitting the complaint as "to cover up and conceal the investigation pressure allegations involving the President and his spouse."

He added, "Even a child knows who is really fabricating," and said, "I hope this case will lead to an improvement in the wrong culture in our country where one is considered a whistleblower if it is advantageous to them, but disparaged as a 'whistleblower applicant' if it is disadvantageous."