A civic group filed a complaint over allegations that a police official assaulted a People Power Party aide who visited the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to lodge a protest.
The People's Livelihood Countermeasures Committee (Seominwi) said on the 17th it filed a complaint against Park Jeong-bo, the Seoul Administrator, and Lee Gwan-hyeong, the Director General of security, on charges including assault by a public official, abuse of authority, obstruction of business, and intimidation. It also included a charge of perverting the course of justice, saying they tried to prevent filming of the scene to destroy or conceal evidence.
Lee Jong-bae, a former Seoul city council member from the People Power Party, also said he would file a complaint on the 18th through the national petition portal against Director General Lee on charges of assault by a public official and obstruction of the performance of official duties.
On the previous day, People Power Party lawmakers visited the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to protest. They aimed to call out Administrator Park Jeong-bo's remarks at a regular press briefing that "those who, without any thought, go along with illegal acts at the ballot-counting site blockade protests could see their lives ruined if they are deemed accomplices."
The scuffle allegation erupted during this process. A video shared on social media (SNS) by People Power Party Supreme Council member Shin Dong-wook showed a physical struggle breaking out as Director General Lee tried to stop an aide filming with a cellphone.
People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik, at a general meeting of lawmakers that day, demanded the immediate dismissal of Director General Lee, a party to the incident, and Administrator Park.