Opposition party calls for dismissal of Seoul police chief over alleged assault

SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- The floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Wednesday called for the immediate dismissal of the chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA), accusing a senior police official of using physical force against a legislative aide earlier this week.

"The head of the SMPA's security division committed violence by twisting the arm of a National Assembly aide and grabbed him by the neck during a lawmakers' visit," PPP floor leader Jeong Jeom-sig said at a general meeting of the party's lawmakers.

"President Lee Jae Myung must immediately dismiss the SMPA chief and the head of its security division," he added.

On Tuesday, an apparent scuffle broke out as PPP lawmakers visited the SMPA to protest remarks by Park Jeong-bo, the agency's chief, who warned that demonstrators protesting the ballot shortages reported during the June 3 local elections could face serious consequences if they "take part in illegal activities and are found to be accomplices."

A video posted online by a PPP lawmaker showing the brief scuffle involving the senior police official and the aide during the visit quickly spread on social media.

Park's remarks referred to an incident in which some protesters were accused of searching through the personal belongings of members of the women's national youth handball team at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's southern district of Jamsil.