[2025 Audit] "You Pathetic Guy"... Science Committee in Turmoil After Lawmakers' Heated Text Exchange

Verbal Abuse and Shouting Halt Proceedings Twice
Kim Wooyoung: "He Lacks Even Basic Decency"
Park Junghoon: "Kim Grabbed Me by the Collar First"

On the second day of the government audit, October 14, during a session of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee, Assemblyman Kim Wooyoung of the Democratic Party publicly revealed a text message containing the phrase "You pathetic guy" and the personal phone number of Assemblyman Park Junghoon of the People Power Party, leading to a heated exchange between ruling and opposition party lawmakers.

Assemblyman Kim explained during his questioning at the committee's audit that he had received a text from Assemblyman Park after making remarks condemning the December 3 Martial Law.

Kim stated, "I made a statement condemning the wrongful coup d'?tat of December 12. I also mentioned a certain individual connected to a lawmaker who is now calling the Lee Jaemyung administration a dictatorship. When I specifically referred to him as 'the person who sat next to Chun Doo-hwan,' that individual personally sent me this text message."

The text messages disclosed by Kim included, "This is Park Junghoon. Please call me!" (September 2), and "Sigh, you pathetic guy!" (September 5).

Previously, on September 5, during a public hearing on the reorganization of broadcasting, media, and communications governance held by the committee, Park had remarked to the Democratic Party that their actions were reminiscent of the National Security Emergency Planning Committee. In response, Kim revealed a photo taken after the December 12 military coup, showing Chun Doo-hwan and his associates. In the photo, Kim highlighted with a red circle the person sitting next to Chun, labeling him as "Cha Kyuhun, former Minister of Transportation." Cha is Park's father-in-law.

Kim further criticized Park, emphasizing both the content of the text messages and Park's earlier claim during a press conference-where Park alleged that the presidential office was linked to pro-Kim Il-sung forces, following the mention of Kim Hyunji, the First Secretary to the President, in a court ruling. Kim stated, "He lacks even the basic decency required of a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea."

People Power Party lawmakers protested, arguing that the public disclosure of Park's personal phone number could make him a target for attacks from hardline Democratic Party supporters. Assemblyman Park Chungkwon pointed out, "Since the phone number was made public, the 'Gaeddal' group will have surely targeted him." Assemblyman Kim Jangkyum also questioned, "Wasn't Park even grabbed by the collar that day? Why go this far?"

Park requested a chance to respond to Kim's disclosure of the text messages, but Choi Minhee, the committee chair and a member of the Democratic Party, refused, saying, "You can simply apologize for cursing at a fellow lawmaker." In response, some lawmakers approached the Democratic Party's seats at the committee, protesting strongly. Park then shouted at Kim, "Get out," and called him "pathetic."

The National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee held the 2025 National Audit on the 14th, during which a text message received by Park Junghoon, a member of the People Power Party, was revealed in response to a question from Kim Wooyoung of the Democratic Party. This led to a heated debate between ruling and opposition party members. Photo by Yonhap News

As the commotion in the chamber continued, Chair Choi suspended the audit. When the protests persisted after the session resumed, she adjourned the meeting. Upon resuming, she ordered Park to leave the chamber.

Afterward, Park held an emergency press conference in front of the committee room, claiming that Kim had first used harsh language and grabbed him by the collar. He explained that during the standing committee meeting on September 2, he had made a protest remark against the Democratic Party for passing a bill related to the Korea Communications Commission, and during the break, Kim said to him, "If only that guy weren't here, our committee would be better."

Park added that later the same day, when People Power Party lawmakers were meeting in the committee's sub-room, Kim entered while on the phone. Park asked him to leave, but Kim responded, "Who are you to tell me to leave?" and grabbed him by the collar, leading to an exchange of harsh words. Park said he later tried to call Kim to reconcile, but when Kim did not answer, he sent the text, "This is Park Junghoon. Please call me!" but received no reply.

Park further explained that after being attacked by Kim on September 5, he sent the text, "Sigh, you pathetic guy," and claimed that Kim replied with "You pathetic [expletive]," but that this part of the exchange was omitted from the messages Kim disclosed that day.