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| Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Kim Eui-kyeom touches his forehead during a party meeting at the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap |
By Nam Hyun-woo
Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) spokesperson Rep. Kim Eui-kyeom is under fire for his false accusations against the ruling bloc, as his previous claims that President Yoon Suk-yeol and Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon had a late-night binge drinking session proved to be false.
During a meeting of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), Friday, its floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young said people should call Kim "Mr. Blackmail" due to his groundless accusations and called for him to step down from his post.
"This is not the first time that Kim, a spokesperson of a political party, is causing similar troubles," Joo said. "I don't understand why they (the DPK) are keeping him as spokesperson."
"It turned out that Kim didn't even check the basic facts," PPP spokesperson Rep. Kim Mi-ae also said in a briefing. "He attempted to keep his face with false apologies which contained no sincerity at all."
Their criticisms came after Kim alleged last month that President Yoon, Justice Minister Han and about 30 lawyers had a late-night drinking session on July 19 in southern Seoul's Cheongdam-dong, citing an anonymous informant who is known to be a cellist who claimed that she played her instrument during the party.
While Kim failed to provide evidence to support his claim, the informant on Wednesday told police that she lied to her boyfriend, who delivered this allegation to an online news outlet. Kim played a recorded phone conversation between the informant and her boyfriend during an National Assembly audit on Oct. 24.
After the informant confessed that she lied, Kim released a written apology on Thursday to reporters. "If the informant's statement (that she lied) is truth, I express my regrets to President Yoon and others who are involved in this issue," he said in the apology.
However, Kim continued that he believes he had done "what I have to do as a lawmaker" and he would make the same accusations if he were given the chance again.
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| Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon touches his face mask during a National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting at the Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap |
Regarding the apologies, Justice Minister Han told reporters on Thursday, "I demand apologies from (DPK Chairman) Rep. Lee Jae-myung, (DPK floor leader) Rep. Park Hong-keun and other lawmakers who joined this false accusation."
He added, "However, Rep. Kim does not need to apologize. If he does not take legal responsibility this time, he will continue making false accusations to deceive the people. I will ask for his legal responsibility."
This is not the first time that the DPK spokesperson has been caught in controversy over his false accusations. On Nov. 9, Kim and the DPK issued apologies to EU Ambassador to South Korea Maria Castillo-Fernandez, over Kim's press briefing in which he "twisted and distorted" the envoy's remarks to imply to reporters that the envoy has indirectly criticized the Yoon administration's North Korea policies.
Despite the ruling bloc's offensives, the DPK is reportedly not considering any punishments or measures for Kim, triggering criticisms within the party.
"Kim should step down from his spokesperson post in order for the party to get away from hate politics," former DPK interim leader Park Ji-hyun wrote on Facebook.
"The gravity of Kim's fault is very heavy. As a public party spokesperson, he spread rumors that some YouTubers might allege for money without any confirmation process and tarnished the people's trust in the main opposition party."
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