"Looking at the Phone and Fell Asleep?"... Kim Minjeon Refutes Nodding Controversy

Controversy Grows After Photo of "Sleeping" Surfaces
Han Jun-ho and Kang Seon-woo Among Critics
Kim's Office: "He Was Preoccupied with His Phone"
Firm Denial: "He Was Not Sleeping"

Rep. Kim Min-jeon of the People Power Party was seen appearing to sleep in the National Assembly plenary session hall after organizing a press conference for the "Anti-Communist Youth Group." JTBC

Kim Min-jeon, a member of the People Power Party, faced controversy after organizing a press conference for the so-called 'Baekgoldan' who vowed to prevent the arrest of President Yoon Seok-yeol. On the same day, a photo of him dozing off in the National Assembly surfaced, intensifying the controversy, prompting Kim to issue an explanation.

On the 13th, Kim's office denied the criticisms from netizens and political circles regarding the photo of him sleeping in the National Assembly, stating that he was not actually sleeping. A representative from Kim's office said, "The lawmaker has never dozed off or slept in the plenary session hall," adding, "However, as seen in the video and photos, he was deeply bowing his head because he was looking at his phone under the padded jumper covering his lap." They continued, "He seems to have been checking notifications due to the large volume of messages he was receiving on his phone."

Earlier, on the 11th, an online community posted a photo of Kim dozing off in the plenary session hall of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. In the photo, Kim was sitting with his head deeply bowed, motionless. On that day, before attending the plenary session for an urgent question regarding 'President Yoon Seok-yeol's unconstitutional emergency martial law declaration and the investigation into the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster,' he had arranged a press conference at the National Assembly communication center for the 'Baekgoldan,' also known as the 'Anti-Communist Youth Group.'

Netizens who saw the photo reacted with comments such as "He sleeps well after causing trouble," "How many times does he sleep in the National Assembly?" and "He looks so carefree." Some even satirized him by giving him the nickname 'Sleeping National Assembly's Baekgol Princess.'

On the 10th, Han Jun-ho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the Supreme Council meeting, "After accomplishing such a great feat (the Baekgoldan press conference), Kim must have been very tired, as he took a deep sleep in the plenary session hall of the National Assembly," adding, "If not, why would online communities give him the nickname 'Baekgol Princess'?" On the same day, Kang Seon-woo, also from the Democratic Party, criticized Kim's attitude on social media by posting, "What National Assembly member Kim Min-jeon does in the National Assembly: 1) Sleeping 2) Sleeping 3) Holding a press conference with Baekgoldan."

On the 9th, Kim Min-jeon, a member of the People Power Party, led a press conference for the 'Anti-Communist Youth Group' at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul. YouTube channel 'KNN NEWS'

Previously, on the 9th, Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly communication center to introduce the Anti-Communist Youth Group supporting President Yoon, but after facing growing criticism, he decided to withdraw the press conference. The six opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, jointly submitted a resolution the next day calling for Kim's expulsion.