Independent lawmaker Kim Byeong-gi plans to sue former aide for defamation

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Jeon Jae-hoon = Independent lawmaker Kim Byeong-gi, who is under police investigation for various allegations of misconduct, announced on the 2nd that he would sue his former aide for defamation.

Representative Kim's side issued a statement that day and said, "We plan to sue former aide Mr. Kim on charges of defamation by publishing false information."

Previously, Mr. Kim, a former aide, appeared as a witness in the case of Rep. Kim at the Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Metropolitan Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, which is investigating Rep. Kim, this afternoon, and said, "Rep. Kim is said to have told people around him that he will not be investigated by the prosecution because the police will not be able to transfer (himself) before October 2."

At the same time, he said, "While being investigated, Rep. Kim suddenly showed bizarre behavior by getting up from his seat and returning home. There are concerns that he may run away."

In response to this, Rep. Kim Byeong-ki's side emphasized, "Rep. Kim's former aides have repeatedly spread false information, but he has not responded because the case is under investigation. We express deep regret over the unilateral spread of false information by his former aides, and we will actively hold him accountable in accordance with the law in the future."

He added, "Rep. Kim has participated in the investigation as faithfully as possible, appearing at the police seven times and responding to the investigation," and added, "In particular, he wants a speedy conclusion more than anyone else because not only his legislative activities but also his family's daily life are greatly hindered, and he has submitted several written opinions to the police from his lawyer requesting a speedy conclusion of the investigation."

Mr. Kim, a former aide whom Rep. Kim had announced would file a complaint, exposed various suspicions, claiming that Rep. Kim had obtained and disclosed the contents of his aides' Telegram conversations without permission, and in December of last year, he sued Rep. Kim on charges of violating the Communications Secrets Protection Act.

On the 11th of last month, when an arrest warrant for Representative Kim was not requested at the prosecution stage, the police summoned Mr. Kim and are conducting a supplementary investigation into suspicions of destruction of evidence.