Park Won-seok "Kim Yong-min, Jin Joong-kwon lawsuit? Response is disappointing... Should adopt an accepting attitude"

Kim Yong-min Files Civil Lawsuit Against Jin Joong-kwon Over 'Cho Kuk's Lackey' Remark

Former Justice Party Lawmaker Park Won-seok [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Kim Yongmin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, has filed a civil lawsuit against Jin Joongkwon, a former professor at Dongyang University, who referred to him as 'Jo Guk's lackey.' On the 12th, Park Wonseok, a former member of the Justice Party, said, "Kim's response is somewhat regrettable."

On the same day, Park appeared on YTN Radio's "Hwang Boseon's Starting New Morning" and said, "(Kim) must have been upset as well. Who wouldn't be upset hearing such remarks?"

He continued, "If it were just voters or citizens using such expressions to criticize him, one might let it slide, but in the case of former professor Jin, isn't he what you call a 'big mouth'?"

He added, "Most of the posts Jin leaves on Facebook or SNS get reported as news, and naturally, when receiving insulting expressions in this process, one would feel bad and upset. However, as a public figure, criticism related to job performance or roles should be broadly tolerated as freedom of expression. Kim, being a lawyer and a democratic and progressive one at that, surely knew this," he said.

Kim Yong-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is questioning Park Jong-moon, Secretary General of the Constitutional Court, during the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Constitutional Court held on the 8th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park said, "In some ways, I think the reaction was a bit excessive," and pointed out, "When public figures repeatedly resort to criminal or civil responses citing defamation, it leaves a very bad precedent called the judicialization of our politics."

He also added, "Mutual criticism or blame in the political sphere should be resolved politically, and when receiving criticism from citizens?even if somewhat insulting or unpleasant expressions are involved?since it concerns public office performance, there should be an attitude of accepting it to some extent."

Furthermore, Park pointed out, "In foreign countries, it is extremely rare for public officials or politicians to file lawsuits on the grounds of defamation. Even during the previous administration, such issues arose, but these can suppress freedom of expression in our society and cause side effects known as 'gag lawsuits,' so such actions should be avoided as much as possible."

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