Cellist in "Cheongdam-dong Drinking Party" Allegation Files Complaint Against Former The Tamsa CEO Kang Jinkoo and Others

Charges Include Attempted Coercion and Defamation

The cellist whose remarks sparked the so-called 'Han Donghoon Cheongdam-dong drinking party' false allegations has filed a police complaint against Kang Jingoo, former CEO of The Tamsa, and two others, including a YouTuber.

Kang Jingoo, former CEO of The Tamsa. Yonhap News

On the 31st, attorney Lee Jeil, legal representative for cellist A, announced that a complaint had been filed with the Seocho Police Station in Seoul against Kang and two others on charges of attempted coercion and defamation by spreading false information under the Information and Communications Network Act.

The 'Cheongdam-dong drinking party' allegation claimed that on July 19, 2022, at a bar in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, then-President Yoon Sukyeol, Minister of Justice Han Donghoon, around 30 lawyers from Kim & Chang, and Lee Sechang, former acting president of the Korea Freedom Federation, among others, gathered and drank past midnight. This allegation was first raised in October 2022 by former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom and The Tamsa.

At the time, former lawmaker Kim cited cellist A's phone conversation with her ex-boyfriend, during which she said, "I saw Yoon Sukyeol and Han Donghoon at the drinking party," as the basis for the claim. However, during a subsequent police investigation, A testified that she had lied to her ex-boyfriend, and the allegation was revealed to be untrue.

Later, Kang was indicted without detention in September of last year and is currently on trial for allegedly conspiring with A's ex-boyfriend to coerce A into giving an interview as if the allegation were true. A's side stated, "Since the 26th, Kang and others have continuously made false statements on YouTube broadcasts, claiming that A fabricated evidence," adding, "The severity and seriousness of these actions are extremely grave," explaining the reason for the complaint.

Kang stated, "After analyzing 1,200 navigation files extracted from the cellist's mobile phone, we found clear evidence of fabrication, such as records showing 9.8 kilometers traveled in one minute," but added, "However, who manipulated this digital evidence needs to be determined through investigation."