The controversy that arose from a would-be politician’s Twitter comment has taken a legal turn with the Navy on Friday filing a complaint with the prosecutors’ office.
On Thursday, Unified Progressive Party’s proportional representative candidate Kim Ji-yoon, 28, posted a photograph of herself holding up a tablet PC showing a slogan reading “(I) Oppose Jeju pirate base. Let’s protect Gangjeong.” Gangjeong is the name of the village where the naval base is being built in Jeju Island.
The remark immediately sparked strong criticism from the military and politicians. On Thursday, a Ministry of National Defense spokesman said that the remark was tantamount to calling all Navy troops pirates, while a rear admiral suggested Kim may have “seen too many pirate movies.”
On Friday, the Navy filed an official complaint against Kim with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on charges of defamation and contempt. The Navy had demanded a formal apology from Kim and warned that legal measures may be taken on Thursday.
Catholic priest Moon Gyu-hyun is taken away by the police after he broke a fence around the naval base construction site to enter the premises on Jeju Island on Friday. (Yonhap News)
“The complaint was filed on behalf of all Navy troops in the name of the Chief of Naval Operations for defamation and contempt,” Navy prosecutor lieutenant commander Lee Byung-oh said.
In the complaint submitted to the prosecutors’ office, the Navy said that Kim’s tweet “grievously damaged the honor of all Navy troops,” and that the post was “written with the malicious intent to slander the plaintiff (Chief of Naval Operations) and all of the Navy.”
In addition to the Navy, Rep. Kang Yong-suk, a lawmaker known for his outspokenness with no party affiliation, has also taken up the issue.
Also on Friday, Kang filed a complaint with the prosecutors’ office on behalf of former marines and navy personnel.
“I filed a complaint on “Korea University Girl” and the Unified Progressive Party with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on behalf of 123 members of former Navy and Marine Corps’ association on charges of slander,” Kang said in his Twitter account.
“Korea University Girl” is Kim’s nickname she acquired when she appeared in a televised debate when she was studying at the university.
Meanwhile, police arrested 25 activists Friday, who broke in the base construction site to protest.
By Choi He-suk (
cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
