[Summary] Justice Party "Power Abuse and Threats Over Phone" vs Kim Nam-guk "Brazen Behavior"

Justice Party "Kim Nam-guk Abruptly Called Over Abortion Crime Commentary, Abusing Power and Threatening"
Kim Nam-guk "Justice Party Distorts Commentary Again Today Following Yesterday"

Kim Nam-guk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is questioning at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office audit held by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee in Yeouido, Seoul, on October 22.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] The conflict between the Justice Party and Kim Namguk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, over remarks made at the public hearing on the abortion law is intensifying. While the Justice Party revealed that Kim made threatening remarks to their spokesperson, Kim demanded an apology instead, saying, "How did the Justice Party fall apart like this?"

Jung Hojin, chief spokesperson of the Justice Party, opened the briefing on the afternoon of the 9th by saying, "Last night, Representative Kim called our party’s spokesperson, Cho Hyemin, to protest the briefing content related to the public hearing on the abortion law held by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee."

Chief Spokesperson Jung pointed out, "The content of Kim’s protest is unacceptable to the Justice Party," adding, "The problem is not only the inappropriate manner of protesting the briefing content, but the 9-minute phone call was so questionable that it made us doubt whether he is really a ruling party lawmaker."

He continued, "It is never a reasonable act for a lawmaker, who has no acquaintance, to suddenly call a party spokesperson and accuse them of distorted briefing," and claimed, "Kim even said, 'If no action is taken, the Justice Party will not support anything, including the abolition of the abortion law and the enactment of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.'"

He said, "The Serious Accidents Punishment Act and the abolition of the abortion law are bills directly related to the lives of the people. To use such bills as hostages to pressure others to accept his position is an unbelievable abuse of power and threat by a ruling party lawmaker, and it is unacceptable," demanding Kim’s apology and strict measures from the party leadership.

Photo by Namguk Kim, captured from the Facebook page of the Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker.

As the controversy grew, Kim posted on his Facebook in the afternoon, criticizing, "To label a victim’s demand for an apology as 'abuse of power and violence'?I don’t know how the Justice Party has fallen apart like this."

He said, "Is the Justice Party a shameful party that does not know how to reflect on mistakes and apologize?" and emphasized, "The Justice Party spokesperson issued a distorted commentary again today after yesterday. I express strong regret and strongly urge a responsible apology from the spokesperson."

Kim stated, "Regarding the abortion law, unlike in the past, I asked whether the thoughts or opinions of men in their 20s and 30s, who should decide and take responsibility together, have been investigated or studied," and questioned, "Does the Justice Party think that men bear no responsibility at all regarding the abortion law?"

He added, "I also co-sponsored the Serious Accidents Punishment Act proposed by a Justice Party lawmaker because it is a law for the people," and urged, "I demand a responsible apology from the Justice Party."

He also said, "I request a responsible apology from the Justice Party for committing violence through maliciously distorted commentary," and concluded his post by expressing "deep regret and sorrow over the Justice Party’s 'blaming the victim' and 'prejudged' behavior, and strongly urging a responsible apology."

Earlier, at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s public hearing on the abortion law the previous day, Kim drew the Justice Party’s backlash by asking a panelist who said "men also agree with the abolition of the abortion law," "Is that the mainstream view?" At the time, Kim asked, "I want to know men’s perception of the bill," and "Are there any views or evaluations from men in their 20s and 30s regarding the abortion law?"

Spokesperson Cho Hyemin indirectly criticized Kim through a commentary, saying, "I will not mention again the absurd remarks at the public hearing that trampled on women’s lives, such as asking, 'I understand women’s opposition to the abolition of the abortion law, but what do men think?'"

In response, Kim rebutted on his Facebook, saying, "It was a question intended to emphasize that men should also feel joint responsibility for abortion." Kim pointed out, "I strongly regret the Justice Party’s commentary and said it completely distorted the questioner’s intent."

He reiterated, "I asked men’s evaluation of the government bill on the premise that abortion is an issue men should also take responsibility for."

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