A ruling party lawmaker has been summoned for questioning over a sexual assault allegation, police said Tuesday.

Rep. Sim Hag-bong of the ruling Saenuri Party is suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in her 40s at a hotel in Daegu, a major city in North Gyeongsang Province, on July 13.

The woman accused Sim of raping her, but later said there was no coercion.

According to the Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency, Sim denied that he tried to persuade the woman to change her statement.

The 54-year-old lawmaker said he met the woman two days after she filed a complaint with the police and cleared up any misunderstanding between themselves, according to a police officer.

As their statements agree with each other, police will send the case to the prosecutor's office with Sim cleared of any suspicion, the officer said.

Sim left the party earlier this week, noting that he does not want to place any burden on the party.

The ruling party said Monday it has accepted Sim's letter of defection. The move lowered to 159 the number of seats held by the ruling party in the 298-member parliament. (Yonhap)