Park Jee-won, a lawmaker with the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 25th addressed allegations that floor leader Kim Byung-kee abused his authority and sought special favors, saying, "He already apologized for inappropriate behavior, but he needs to reflect more." Recently, reports said Kim received an expensive hotel voucher from Korean Air and asked for airport protocol services for his family, sparking controversy. Additional allegations were raised that he received preferential medical treatment at a general hospital in his constituency.
On BBS Radio that day, Park, responding to the host's question that "allegations surrounding floor leader Kim Byung-kee keep breaking out," said, "Conflicts with aides are always somewhat a problem in politics," but added, "Before blaming that, I hope this becomes an opportunity for all of our National Assembly members to reflect on how the lawmaker personally conducted himself."
Earlier, the previous day, Kim apologized in a group Telegram chat of Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers regarding the allegations against him, saying, "I am sorry for causing concern." Even so, about the multiple reports of allegations, he said they were "a private act of revenge driven by ill will," adding, "They may nitpick and attack using another pretext, but I will endure the pouring rain," and, "I will hold out, trusting you lawmakers, my sturdy umbrella," according to a post he is said to have shared.
In particular, on the 25th, the following day, he posted on his Facebook a screenshot of a Telegram chat room created by former aides, saying, "The informant appears to be a former staffer who worked with me in the past and is posing as a whistleblower with crafty rhetoric." Kim said the former aides "made a mockery of insurrection and sexually harassed a female district council member" in that chat room, and claimed that after he notified them of their dismissal, they bore a grudge and raised false allegations.
He went on, "The words, requests, and help exchanged back then in mutual trust (with the former staffer) have now been disguised under the name of 'gapjil,'" adding, "They secretly recorded conversations with me and are indiscriminately disclosing them, cunningly mixing facts with distortions and falsehoods."