Lawmaker Lee Jin-sook sues opposition leader Kim Min-seok for defamation over 'female Hitler' remarks

Rep. Lee Jin-sook of the People Power Party has filed a criminal complaint for defamation against Rep. Kim Min-seok, the leader of the Democratic Party. The legal action stems from Kim's public remarks labeling Lee a 'female Hitler' and a 'female Chun Doo-hwan' in response to her hosting a parliamentary forum discussing the May 18th Gwangju Uprising.

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How am I a female Hitler?

Speaking to reporters outside the Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station, Lee stated, "Members of the National Assembly must have dignity in their language, and moreover, the party leader represents the people." She questioned, "How am I a female Hitler?" Lee asserted that holding a debate on a specific issue in the National Assembly should not be restricted, asking if South Korea had become a dictatorship like Stalin's Soviet Union. She demanded a formal apology from Kim Min-seok.

When asked by reporters about criticism of her forum, which has been accused of distorting the history of the May 18th Uprising, Lee dismissed the premise of the question. "Many people do not think that way about the forum's content. That is your [the reporter's] opinion, and the premise of your question is wrong," she stated. Regarding why the term 'female Chun Doo-hwan' was omitted from the lawsuit, Lee explained it was to simplify the legal proceedings.

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Many people do not think that way about the forum's content. That is your [the reporter's] opinion, and the premise of your question is wrong.

Lee's legal representative, Im Moo-young, argued that while politicians are open to public criticism, Kim's remarks went beyond legitimate critique. "In the case of Party Leader Kim Min-seok, he attacked Rep. Lee with the political intention of winning the party leadership race, making remarks with insulting intent without any verification or critical purpose. Therefore, it clearly constitutes an illegal act," Im stated.

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In the case of Party Leader Kim Min-seok, he attacked Rep. Lee with the political intention of winning the party leadership race, making remarks with insulting intent without any verification or critical purpose. Therefore, it clearly constitutes an illegal act.