Handonghun "Will hold legal responsibility" vs Kim Euigyeom "Will take responsibility for the questions"

Handonghun Announces Legal Action Against Kim Uigyeom and The Tam-sa Over 'Cheongdam-dong Drinking Party' Allegations
Kim Uigyeom: "I Will Not Avoid Legal Responsibility for Asking 'Is It True?'"

On the 24th, at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's comprehensive audit, Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, is responding to a question from Kim Eui-gyeom, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by National Assembly Broadcast Screen Capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon has announced legal action against Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom, The Tam-sa, and related parties who raised allegations of an inappropriate drinking party involving President Yoon Seok-yeol and Kim & Chang lawyers.

Lawmaker Kim stated that he would not avoid legal responsibility if held accountable for asking whether the reported content was true.

On the afternoon of the 25th, Minister Han said, "I will speak regarding the statement made today (the 25th) by Democratic Party spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom," adding, "I will hold 'The Tam-sa and its related parties,' who spread clear false information via YouTube and other platforms, and 'Democratic Party spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom,' who admitted to 'collaborating' with them, legally responsible both criminally and civilly."

At the comprehensive National Assembly inspection by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee the previous day, Lawmaker Kim stated that "Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon held a drinking party on July 19th at a high-end bar in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, accompanied by President Yoon and about 30 Kim & Chang lawyers."

In response to these allegations, Minister Han showed a somewhat agitated reaction, saying, "I will stake any public office, including the position of Minister of Justice. What will you stake, lawmaker?"

However, in a statement released that day, Lawmaker Kim said, "There are vivid eyewitness accounts who directly witnessed the drinking party, and the person identified as the organizer repeatedly admitted the facts," adding, "I only disclosed those statements exactly as they were spoken."

He continued, "If true, this would constitute a tremendous disruption of state affairs. Verification was necessary," and "The most certain way is to ask the person directly about the truth. That is what the National Assembly inspection is for."

Lawmaker Kim said, "In response to my question, Minister Han immediately said, 'I will stake my ministerial position,' turning the inspection into a gambling den," adding, "I have no intention of getting involved in threats typical of back-alley thugs. But I want to make it clear that I have staked everything since I started politics."

Finally, Lawmaker Kim added, "This time is no different. If I am to be held legally responsible for asking 'Is it true?' I will not avoid it," and "I will stand firm and fight. I will also continue to verify whether the reported content is accurate."

Lawmaker Kim's position is interpreted as questioning what wrongdoing there is in a National Assembly member directly confirming the truth of a report related to a public figure, Minister Han, during a National Assembly inspection, regardless of the truth of the allegations he raised the day before.

Legally, whether Kim conducted sufficient fact-checking before playing the related audio file during his inquiry at the National Assembly inspection, or whether he made the statement in a public setting with the intent to defame Minister Han without such verification, will determine the legal responsibility.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the civic group Free Korea Patriotic Corps filed a police complaint against Lawmaker Kim for defamation by spreading false information.

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