Ruling and opposition parties clash at Legislation and Judiciary Committee national audit over release of video
People Power Party lawmaker Ju Jin-woo and the Democratic Party of Korea are headed for a legal battle over allegations he raised Monday that first lady Kim Hye-kyung received private golf lessons. The Democratic Party announced it would file a criminal complaint against Ju for spreading false information, and Ju fired back, saying he would counter-file on charges of false accusation.
At the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee national audit held that day, Ju clashed with fellow PPP committee members after announcing he would screen a video related to the allegations against the first lady. Committee Chair Seo Young-gyo blocked the screening, prompting Ju to immediately release the footage on YouTube.
Democratic Party floor spokesperson Lee Ju-hee then announced in a statement that the party would soon file a complaint against Ju "for continuously spreading false information about the president's family."
Ju responded swiftly. "The Democratic Party's blocking of the 'imperial golf lesson video' at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee is in effect a confession," he said. "I am informed that the Democratic Party intends to file a complaint against me — I will be counter-filing on charges of false accusation."
Ju had originally been scheduled to question witnesses during the morning session of the national audit, but a backlog in the proceedings pushed his turn to the afternoon.
Committee Chair Seo, a Democratic Party member, blocked the video, saying, "If these were filmed in secret, they should not be shown here." Ju shot back: "I anticipated this reaction and came prepared. I will release the video publicly on YouTube."
Ju added that the footage "clearly proves the imperial golf lessons took place," and argued that blocking the screening amounted to an admission. "Preventing me from playing it is basically a confession that the first lady played golf," he said. "Under the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials Act, the president's spouse and family are subject to investigation."
Floor spokesperson Lee pushed back sharply. "Someone who habitually engages in criminal conduct — stalking the president and his family in their daily lives and spreading false information — is hiding behind the status of a National Assembly member," she said. "Ju should stop leaking innuendo from behind his immunity and present all the evidence in full."
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