Handonghun "Democratic Party Should Sincerely Apologize and Take Responsible Actions for Endorsing Low-Quality Fake News as Truth"

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] On the 27th, Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, demanded a "sincere apology and responsible measures at the party level" from the Democratic Party, which expanded and reproduced the 'Cheongdam-dong drinking party' allegations raised by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom.

In a statement sent to reporters that morning, Minister Han said, "Yesterday morning, at the Democratic Party Supreme Council meeting attended by party leader Lee Jae-myung, the so-called 'The Tam-sa' under investigation for stalking allegations against me, Democratic Party spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom, and an ex-boyfriend of a cellist collaborated to create an absurd and baseless fake news story claiming that 'at an unknown alley bar in Cheongdam-dong, where neither the name nor location is known, 30 people including the sitting president, the Minister of Justice, and Kim & Chang lawyers gathered with bodyguards and sang Dongbaek Agassi and Yoon Do-hyun songs accompanied by cello music at 3 a.m.' This nonsensical fake news was openly reproduced in front of the media, and furthermore, the Democratic Party leadership (Supreme Council members Jang Kyung-tae, Park Chan-dae, etc.) suggested that the credibility of this low-quality fake news was high and proposed forming a task force (TF)," he said.

Minister Han continued, "Despite legal actions and criticism from sensible citizens regarding the false information spread deeply involving the party’s spokesperson, the Democratic Party knowingly abused the credibility granted to the majority party at the party level by endorsing this low-quality fake news as truth, thereby actively participating in spreading and imprinting false information on the public," he pointed out.

Minister Han stated, "As a victim of false information dissemination, I demand a sincere apology and responsible measures from the Democratic Party."

On the 24th, lawmaker Kim stated during the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s comprehensive audit that "Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon held a drinking party on July 19 with President Yoon Seok-youl and about 30 Kim & Chang lawyers at a high-end bar in Cheongdam-dong."

At the time, Minister Han strongly denied the allegations, saying, "I am willing to put any public office, including the Minister of Justice position, on the line."

The next day, on the 25th, he announced his intention to take legal action, stating, "I will hold The Tam-sa and its affiliates who spread clear falsehoods on YouTube and others, as well as Democratic Party spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom, who admitted to collaborating with them, legally responsible both criminally and civilly."

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

He added, "If I am to be held legally responsible for asking 'Is this true?', I will not evade it. I will stand firm and fight. Also, I will continue to verify whether the tip-off is accurate."

Some civic groups have also filed police complaints against lawmaker Kim for defamation by spreading false information.

In this situation, the Democratic Party leadership came out in defense of lawmaker Kim the day before and even proposed forming a dedicated task force (TF) team to investigate the truth.

Supreme Council member Park Chan-dae said at the party’s Supreme Council meeting the day before, "Serious allegations have been raised that President Yoon and Minister Han held a drinking party with Kim & Chang lawyers in Cheongdam-dong until dawn. I think it is appropriate to form a TF to uncover the truth."

Supreme Council member Jang Kyung-tae, during his remarks at the meeting, replayed the so-called 'cellist recording' and said, "The recording contains detailed information such as President Yoon singing Dongbaek Agassi with cello accompaniment and Minister Han singing a song by Yoon Do-hyun, which makes its credibility appear very high. Since the cellist’s statements were made comfortably with a friend rather than under duress, the credibility seems even higher."

The Tam-sa revealed that the person who reported this allegation is the ex-boyfriend of the cellist appearing in the recording. On the 24th, The Tam-sa explained on its YouTube broadcast that the cellist "calls herself a Gaeddal (a female supporter of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party) and is a power Twitter user within the democratic camp."

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