Geum Tae-seop, Kim Yong-min Criticism Met with Ruling Party Lawmakers Saying "Judgment Is Regrettable"

Geum Tae-seop on Kim Yong-min, who sued Jin Joong-kwon: "Does he still think he's progressive?"
Ruling party on Geum Tae-seop: "Hard to agree with his claims," "He no longer feels like a principled politician"

Former Democratic Party lawmaker Geum Tae-seop. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Members of the Democratic Party are pouring criticism on former Democratic Party lawmaker Geum Tae-seop. This came after Geum criticized Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min, who filed a civil lawsuit against former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon, prompting a unified backlash.

On the 8th, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-guk wrote on his Facebook, addressing Geum, "I find it difficult to agree with the claim that legally disputing former Professor Jin’s remarks suppresses the freedom of expression for public figures," adding, "Geum’s judgment is very regrettable."

Earlier, Geum attached an article related to lawmaker Kim Yong-min on his Facebook and stated, "After the impeachment and regime change, now a Democratic Party lawmaker is filing a damages claim lawsuit for defamation," and added, "There were writings and images comparing the president to a rat or a chicken, and some criticisms were factually incorrect in specific details, but our argument was that banning or punishing such things makes healthy criticism or satire of public officials impossible."

He further criticized Kim Yong-min, saying, "Does he still think of himself as progressive?" and "People didn’t hold candlelight vigils for that."

In response, lawmaker Kim Nam-guk said, "If Kim Yong-min had been indiscriminately filing criminal complaints against ordinary citizens, I might partially agree with Geum’s claim," but added, "However, it is difficult to view former Professor Jin’s remarks as ordinary public criticism. Almost all media outlets reproduce Jin’s SNS posts without criticism, so his influence is considerable."

He continued, "Moreover, the problematic expressions are more like ridicule and sarcasm rather than sound criticism. Most of his other writings are similar," and pointed out, "The expressions in question this time are merely insulting criticism and sarcasm."

He also said, "Furthermore, Kim Yong-min has not indiscriminately filed criminal complaints. Since he is choosing to dispute through a civil lawsuit rather than immediately filing a criminal complaint, it seems to be a measure considering freedom of expression," concluding, "I have long observed Kim Yong-min’s activities in the Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun) and recently closely watched his legislative activities. He is more reformist and progressive than anyone else."

Kim Yong-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, attended the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 21st of last month, where he presented the proposal for the partial amendment of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Jae-jung, also a member of Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun) like Kim Yong-min, expressed similar regret toward former lawmaker Geum.

On the previous day, Lee shared an article related to Geum on his Facebook and criticized, "It is regrettable that the feeling of a principled politician standing for certain values seems to be gradually disappearing," and asked, "What makes him so impatient?"

He said, "This person has been appearing in this manner frequently lately. It’s unfortunate," and added, "Discussions about expanding freedom of expression through decriminalization of defamation by stating facts do not mean completely exempting related responsibilities. It means shifting responsibility to the civil domain, to civil liability."

He continued, "Kim, who has worked harder than anyone else to protect the fundamental rights of the people, after much consideration, took this unavoidable measure to uphold values. Did he really not understand the nuances of his junior’s concerns?"

Former Dongyang University Professor Jin Joong-kwon. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, former Professor Jin announced on the 7th that he had been sued in a civil lawsuit by lawmaker Kim Yong-min. Through his Facebook on the same day, he said, "After being criminally sued by an organization that talks about clearing deep-rooted evils, a civil lawsuit was filed yesterday," adding, "The plaintiff is Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min."

He added, "After reading the complaint, I was baffled. This person said he is unable to carry out his legislative activities because he was upset and resentful about being called 'Cho Kuk’s henchman' by me," and "I burst out laughing at that part."

Earlier, on June 21, lawmaker Kim Yong-min said in his YouTube broadcast that Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl is "a symbolic figure showing the necessity of prosecutorial reform," and added, "I have a feeling he will be the worst prosecutor general in history."

In response, former Professor Jin criticized on his Facebook, "A rookie lawmaker whose blood hasn’t even dried on his head dares to openly deny the president’s personnel appointments," and said, "No wonder he is called Cho Kuk’s henchman. The worst lawmaker in history."

He further said, "If Prosecutor General Yoon is the worst ever, then Chief Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs Cho Kuk, who was in charge of personnel screening, should be held strictly accountable, and the president who appointed the worst prosecutor general in history should be sternly questioned for appointment responsibility."

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