Myeongseong Church 'Not Incident' Former Lawmaker Kim Chung-hwan Sued for Defamation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Kim Chung-hwan, a former member of the Grand National Party (the predecessor of the United Future Party) aged 66, who was prosecuted for threatening protesters opposing the hereditary succession of church pastor positions with a sickle, has been sued for defamation.

According to the police on the 24th, the Gangdong Police Station in Seoul has received a complaint and launched an investigation on charges of defamation related to Kim calling Jeong Sang-gyu, a member of the Church Reform Laymen's Union who ran as a preliminary candidate for the United Future Party ahead of the April 15 general election, "a very malicious person."

Earlier, the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Yang In-cheol) received a complaint claiming defamation by Kim and on the 6th of this month issued an investigation directive to the Gangdong Police Station.

Kim was prosecuted on charges of attempting to cut the strings of a banner set up by protesters opposing the hereditary succession of the pastor position at Myeongseong Church located in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, with a sickle, and swinging the sickle toward the protesters in June last year.

At that time, the Gangdong Police Station arrested Kim on the spot and sent him to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment. The prosecution filed a summary indictment against Kim, and the Seoul Eastern District Court issued a summary order imposing a fine of 5 million won in April, but Kim appealed and requested a formal trial.

Meanwhile, Kim served as the head of Gangdong District Office from 1995 to 2003 and was a member of the Grand National Party in the 17th and 18th National Assembly. He ran as a preliminary candidate for the United Future Party in Gangdong-gap in the April 15 general election but did not become the final candidate.

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