Reporter’s Wrist Pulled by Kwon Seong-dong... Newstapa "Will File Criminal Complaint"

Kwon Seong-dong Refuses Interview and Grabs Reporter’s Wrist
Kwon’s Side Refutes, Calling It “Physical Threat Disguised as Reporting”

The internet media outlet Newstapa announced that it will file a criminal complaint against Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party. Earlier, Kwon was embroiled in a controversy over assault after a scene surfaced showing him grabbing and pulling the wrist of a Newstapa reporter who was asking him questions, refusing to be interviewed.

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is answering questions from reporters after concluding the floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly on April 15, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Bong Ji-wook, a Newstapa reporter, said on June 16 on CBS Radio's 'Park Jae-hong's One-on-One Match,' "(We) will file a criminal complaint against (floor leader Kwon Seong-dong)," adding, "Only People Power Party lawmakers are showing inappropriate attitudes toward the press, and in this case, violence was even used. He must take responsibility for it." Newstapa plans to sue Kwon for assault, injury, and defamation against Newstapa.

The video released by Newstapa that day shows floor leader Kwon refusing to be interviewed amid persistent questions from reporters at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, grabbing the reporter's wrist and pulling them along.

On the 16th, Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, grabbed the wrist of a Newstapa reporter who was asking questions at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, leaving the wrist reddened. Photo by Newstapa.

Regarding the incident, reporter Bong said, "Reporter Lee Myeong-ju (Newstapa) asked questions, but (floor leader Kwon) repeatedly said, 'Newstapa is not a media outlet; it's a rumor mill,' and strongly grabbed and pulled the wrist of female reporter Lee Myeong-ju, taking her somewhere," adding, "Looking at the photos, her wrist and neck were swollen and red." He criticized, "How could someone who has been in politics for so long behave like this?"

Criticism is also emerging in the political sphere regarding floor leader Kwon's 'assault on a reporter' controversy. Park Sung-joon, senior deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, targeted Kwon on the 17th at a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly, saying, "I doubted my eyes, wondering if he is really the floor leader of a political party," and raised his voice, "I hope he apologizes to the reporter and resigns from his floor leader position."

Kwon Seong-dong's side rebutted, calling it "a physical threat and coercive approach disguised as reporting." In a press release that day, Kwon's side emphasized, "Despite expressing refusal to be interviewed, the excessive reporting behavior is a malicious act that cannot be protected under freedom of the press."