Gosi Student Group Files Defamation Complaint with Prosecutors Against Candidate Park Beom-gye Over 'Assault Allegations'

Minister of Justice nominee Park Beom-gye is arriving at the hearing preparation office set up at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong on the 11th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] A group of bar exam candidates claiming to have been assaulted in the past by Park Beom-gye, the nominee for Minister of Justice, has filed a complaint against him with the prosecution.

The group advocating for the preservation of the judicial examination held a press conference on the 12th in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, announcing that they had filed a criminal complaint against Park with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on charges of defamation through publications.

The group stated, "(Park Beom-gye) did assault a bar exam candidate who knelt down and pleaded to save the judicial exam, which is a fact, but in a media interview on his way to work, he made false statements claiming 'there was no assault and that he was almost hit by the bar exam candidates instead.' This is a false statement that seriously damages the complainants' honor, so we are filing a criminal complaint against Park Beom-gye."

They continued, "The bar exam candidates have stated that if Park sincerely apologizes and reflects on his actions, they would forgive him and not pursue the matter further, both then and now," but added, "Seeing Park's shameless attitude, the bar exam candidates feel the heartbreaking despair that their tearful sacrifices and efforts, endured through rain and hardship to preserve a fair judicial examination, are being wasted."

The group claims that on November 23, 2016, at Park's officetel located in Dangsan-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, he grabbed the collar of a bar exam candidate who was requesting the passage of a bill to preserve the judicial examination and verbally abused him. They also allege that Park's secretaries said, "You know this is a violation of the Personal Information Protection Act, right?" while attempting to take a photo of the candidate's face with a cellphone.

Park's side has denied these allegations and stated that they will clarify the specific circumstances of the incident during the confirmation hearing.

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