Investigation Launched into Complaint Against Candidate Kim Nam-guk for Appearing on 'Misogyny' Podcast

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The case involving Kim Nam-guk, the Democratic Party candidate for Ansan Danwon, Gyeonggi Province, who was reported for appearing on a paid podcast broadcast that sparked controversy over misogyny and objectification, has been assigned to the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office.

On the 15th, the Judicial Examination Preparation Group (Sajunmo) announced, "The case of filing charges against candidate Kim, co-host of the adult paid podcast 'Three Yeongojeon,' Lee Dong-hyung, CEO of Mir Media Strategy Research Institute and podcast producer, and Park Ji-hoon, the company's auditor and co-host, has been assigned to the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office."

The prosecution plans to hand over the case to the Seodaemun Police Station in Seoul for investigation supervision.

Sajunmo claimed that Kim and others violated Article 73-2 of the Information and Communications Network Act by producing the podcast without marking it as harmful media for youth and allowing minors to listen for 500 won per episode, and filed charges against them at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office the day before.

Article 42 of the Information and Communications Network Act states, "A person who intends to provide harmful media for youth must indicate that the information is harmful media for youth in accordance with the method prescribed by Presidential Decree." Violation of this is punishable under Article 73-2 with imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to 20 million won.

Earlier, Park Soon-ja, the United Future Party candidate competing in the same district as Kim, pointed out at a National Assembly press conference on the 13th, "Some of the hosts' conversations include shameful misogynistic remarks that are unmentionable," adding, "Candidate Kim also laughed and enjoyed the hosts' misogynistic remarks and participated in objectifying women's bodies and sexuality."

In response to these claims, candidate Kim issued a statement saying, "I did not make the remarks that (candidate Park) is raising as an issue," and explained, "I was not a co-host, but was invited as a single man who has not had much dating experience and was mainly the target of teasing."

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