"'Sexual Assault Allegation' Kim Byung-wook Quits People Power Party... 'Will Prove Innocence' (Comprehensive)"

Kim Jong-in: "I don't specifically want to hear it, nor have I heard anything"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 7th, Kim Byung-wook, a member of the People Power Party, announced his intention to leave the party, stating he would prove his innocence regarding the sexual assault allegations against him.

Kim released a statement that day saying, "I am leaving the party to avoid burdening it," and added, "I will return after proving my innocence."

Earlier, the Garosero Research Institute broadcasted that they had received a witness report claiming that Kim assaulted an intern secretary from another lawmaker’s office at a hotel in Andong, Gyeongbuk, around October 2018, when he was a parliamentary aide. Immediately after the broadcast, Kim stated, "This is completely untrue," and said, "I will take strong civil and criminal legal actions immediately."

The People Power Party convened an emergency countermeasure committee that afternoon to discuss the issue but canceled the meeting following Kim’s announcement of his departure. Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman, told reporters right after the cancellation, "It seems he left the party to go outside and legally fight to prove his innocence," and added, "I have no particular intention to hear details and have not heard much."

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