與, Kim Byung-wook and Jung Jin-kyung Sexual Harassment Scandal: "Opposition, Will You Continue the Saenuri Party Stigma?"

'Sexual Harassment Controversy' Jeong Jin-gyeong, Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner, Voluntarily Resigns
'Sexual Assault Allegation' Kim Byung-wook Leaves People Power Party... "Will Prove Innocence"

Independent lawmaker Kim Byung-wook, who left the People Power Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 8th and announced that he would sue the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute (Gaseyeon), which raised allegations of sexual assault against an intern secretary, for defamation due to the spread of false information. He is seen greeting after the announcement.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Lawyer Jeong Jin-gyeong, who was elected as a member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Past Affairs recommended by the People Power Party, resigned after one day when it was revealed that he had been disciplined for sexual harassment allegations during his time as a university professor. The People Power Party is reportedly embarrassed as this incident occurred just two days after Representative Kim Byung-wook (Gyeongbuk Pohang-si Nam-gu Ulleung-gun) left the party amid past sexual assault allegations. The ruling party launched a counterattack by mentioning the notorious "Seongnuri Party" from the former Saenuri Party era.

The People Power Party announced on the 9th that Lawyer Jeong voluntarily resigned from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for "personal reasons." Jeong’s resignation appears to be due to the late revelation that he was disciplined with a three-month suspension for sexually harassing three female students while serving as a professor at the Law School of Chungnam National University. His resume submitted to the National Assembly omitted his tenure at Chungnam National University Law School.

Earlier, Representative Kim also left the party one day after sexual assault allegations surfaced on the 7th. The YouTube channel "Garo Sero Research Institute" raised allegations on the 6th that Kim had sexually assaulted an intern secretary from another lawmaker’s office during his time as a parliamentary aide.

Kim denied the allegations immediately, calling them "groundless," but as the controversy did not subside, he announced his intention to leave the party, stating, "I will leave the party to avoid burdening it. I will return after proving my innocence."

In response to the ongoing sexual scandals involving opposition party figures, the ruling party continued its offensive by referring to the "Seongnuri Party."

Shin Young-dae, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 9th, "The People Power Party is reverting to the days of the Saenuri Party, which was embroiled in various sexual scandals, by recommending Professor Jeong Jin-gyeong, who was disciplined for sexual harassment at a university, as a member of the Past Affairs Commission, following Representative Kim Byung-wook’s scapegoat resignation amid sexual assault allegations." He added, "This is causing public outrage."

He continued, "Although time has passed and the party name has changed several times, the behavior has not changed. Especially, former Saenuri Party Representative Kim Hyung-tae, who left the party over spousal sexual assault allegations, and Representative Kim share the same constituency, seemingly proving a parallel theory."

Meanwhile, the People Power Party’s April 7 by-election preparation committee emphasized "realizing gender equality" as its principle, stating, "We will firmly block anyone involved in sexual crimes from entering public office and firmly uphold victim-centered principles in cases of sexual crimes, actively practicing the spirit of our party platform and policies."

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