Kim Byung-wook: "I Didn't Even Brush Against Rep. Kim Seung-hee's Collar... The Prosecution's Imagination"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Kim Byung-wook, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly denied being indicted in connection with the Fast Track (rapid processing bill) clash, saying, "I have not even brushed against Kim Seung-hee, a member of the Liberty Korea Party."

On the 3rd, at a press conference, Rep. Kim said, "Yesterday, I was indicted by the prosecution on charges of 'joint injury by Kim Seung-hee, a member of the Liberty Korea Party, and joint assault by party officials of the Liberty Korea Party' related to the obstruction of the Liberty Korea Party's meeting during the designation process of the Fast Track bill," adding, "I want to state that I am not at all related to the charges of injury to Rep. Kim Seung-hee or assault on party officials."

He said that on April 26 of last year, the date and place specified by the prosecution as the scene of the crime in front of the National Assembly's Legislative Affairs Office, he and Rep. Kim Seung-hee "did not even brush against each other's collars." Rep. Kim said, "How can one inflict injury on a person with whom there was no physical contact?"

He continued, "The prosecution has not investigated any details related to the injury of Rep. Kim Seung-hee. Even during the long police investigation in July last year, there was no mention of it, and I did not see the relevant video."

The prosecution contacted his office by phone on the afternoon of December 30, five months after the police investigation, asking him to undergo a supplementary investigation on December 31 or January 1, according to Rep. Kim's explanation.

Rep. Kim said, "It was absolutely impossible to be investigated during the year-end and New Year holidays due to already scheduled appointments. I clearly expressed my intention to adjust the schedule and undergo the investigation later, but this was ignored, and the prosecution indicted me without detention on charges unknown to me two days later. There was no minimum confirmation or coordination."

He added, "The prosecution regards the charges as joint injury and joint assault, which presuppose conspiracy. Although I had already been investigated by the police, the investigative authorities never asked or investigated me about any conspiracy. The charge of injury is entirely an expression based on the prosecution's imagination," he claimed.

Rep. Kim said, "In an instant, I became a shameless person who injured a female lawmaker with whom I did not even brush collars at the time," adding, "This is being cited in reports as if it were true. As a citizen before being a member of the National Assembly, my heart is heavy to the point of breaking."

He stated his intention to sincerely follow the related procedures going forward to prove his innocence and restore his honor. Rep. Kim said, "I strongly express regret over the prosecution's unchecked exercise of public authority and deeply feel the need for prosecution reform. As a member of the National Assembly, I am facing difficulties due to unverified facts from the prosecution, so I am deeply concerned about how our citizens must feel. However, the truth will soon be revealed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.