"Go to Hell": Busan Roundhouse Kick Victim Expresses Anger on Kim Yongmin's SNS

Expresses Opposition to Abolition of Supplementary Investigation
"If There Had Been No Supplementary Investigation, My Victimization Would Not Have Been Known"

Kim Yongmin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who dedicated the criminal procedure law revision bill to the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, faced strong criticism from Ms. Kim (pseudonym), the victim of the Busan roundhouse kick incident.

On August 1, Ms. Kim fiercely rebuked Assemblyman Kim by leaving a comment on his social media post, saying, "Go to hell." Earlier that day, Assemblyman Kim had posted a photo from his visit to former President Roh’s grave, writing, "I laid the revised criminal procedure law, which has passed, at your memorial. Mr. President Roh, are you saying, 'Wow, I feel great!'?" expressing his satisfaction.

Comment left by the victim of the Busan roundhouse kick incident on a post by Yongmin Kim, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Screenshot from SNS

The amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act was passed the previous day, primarily led by the Democratic Party of Korea and the broader ruling coalition. The bill focuses on separating investigative and prosecutorial powers, with its main points being the abolition of prosecutors’ supplementary investigation authority and the formalization of requests for supplementary investigation.

However, prosecutors can still request supplementary investigations from judicial police officers, and those officers are required to fully conduct the supplementary investigation within one month and report the results. The supplementary investigation period can be extended for up to one month, either upon police request or by the prosecutor’s own authority.

After the bill's passage, Ms. Kim, as a victim of a heinous crime, expressed her anxiety about the situation. She appealed to President Lee Jaemyung, urging him to exercise his right to request reconsideration (veto power).

On her personal social media, Ms. Kim stated, "If you are a president who truly represents the people, you must reject this," and added, "I sincerely hope that, just for this moment, you will stand with the victims and the people, not the perpetrators, by rejecting it." She further expressed deep despair, saying, "Starting today, do not go outside. The state will not protect you."

Ms. Kim also expressed her opposition to the amendment at a National Assembly forum held on July 23. She stated, "Thanks to the supplementary investigation authority, the perpetrator's charge was changed from 'assault' to 'attempted murder through rape and other means.' Without the supplementary investigation, it would not have been recognized that I was a victim of a sexual crime, and the perpetrator would already have been released back into society."

On August 2, Ms. Kim also shared a post by Assemblyman Kwak Sang-eon of the Democratic Party of Korea on her social media. Assemblyman Kwak, who is the son-in-law of former President Roh, criticized some members of his party for referencing former President Roh in the debate over prosecutorial reform. He said, "Please do not use President Roh Moo-hyun’s death as a symbolic tool," and argued, "Using his final decision as a political plaything for personal or political gain by politicians turns his name into nothing but a subject of ridicule."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.