Myeongseong Church 'Not Scandal' Former Lawmaker Kim Chung-hwan's First Trial on the 23rd of This Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Former Hannara Party (predecessor of the United Future Party) lawmaker Kim Chung-hwan (66), who damaged a banner opposing the pastoral succession at Myeongseong Church with a sickle and swung the sickle at protesters, will face a formal trial in response to the prosecution's summary indictment.

According to the Seoul Eastern District Court on the 16th, Kim requested a formal trial for the case in which the prosecution summary indicted him last year on charges of obstructing a rally against the succession at Myeongseong Church. The first hearing will be held at 11 a.m. on the 23rd.

Kim is accused of attempting to cut the strings of a banner set up by protesters opposing the pastoral succession at Myeongseong Church in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, on June 16 last year, and swinging a sickle toward the protesters. At the time, the Gangdong Police Station in Seoul arrested Kim on the spot, and in October last year, they sent him to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment. After completing witness investigations related to charges of special intimidation, special property damage, and obstruction of assembly, the prosecution summary indicted Kim on February 24.

Subsequently, the Seoul Eastern District Court issued a summary order imposing a fine of 5 million won on Kim on the 11th of last month. Kim stated, "The worship was being disturbed due to the protesters' rally, and cutting the banner strings during the preparation for the protest does not constitute special intimidation or special property damage," adding, "The fine of 5 million won is an excessive decision."

Meanwhile, Kim ran as a preliminary candidate for the United Future Party in Gangdong-gap in the 21st general election but was not selected as the final candidate. He served as the mayor of Gangdong-gu from 1995 to 2003 and was a Hannara Party lawmaker in the 17th and 18th National Assembly.

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