Two South Korean ruling party lawmakers issued public apologies on August 4, 2026, after making offensive jokes referencing the notorious Busan roundhouse kick assault during a National Assembly seminar. The incident drew sharp rebukes from party officials and the crime victim herself.
Political decorum fractured inside a National Assembly conference room on August 4, 2026, when lawmakers Seo Bum-soo and Jin Jong-oh of the People Power Party exchanged remarks poking fun at a violent crime (the outlet reported the incident). The exchange occurred ahead of an emergency seminar organized by independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon under the title The doors of hell have opened with the ban on supplementary investigations (according to the source). Seo looked across the room at Jin, a former Olympic shooting gold medalist, and remarked, Jin Jong-oh, shall we do a roundhouse kick? Jin smiled and replied, I am better with my hands than with my feet (HANI published the dialogue).
The Presence of Kim Jin-joo and the Triggering Attack
The casual banter carried acute weight because the event was attended by Kim Jin-joo (a pseudonym), the survivor of the 2022 Busan assault that shocked the nation. The original crime involved an assailant launching a brutal, indiscriminate attack against Kim as she walked home. Subsequent prosecution work by prosecutors revealed that the assault was committed with the intent to commit sexual violence rather than serving as a simple physical altercation (as detailed in reporting). Having survived severe trauma and advocated publicly against restrictions on investigative powers, Kim found herself sitting in the audience while lawmakers traded jokes directly alluding to the very violence she endured.
Public Apologies and Party Criticism
As news of the exchange spread, both lawmakers faced immediate public backlash and issued separate statements of contrition (international and local desks tracked the fallout). Seo posted an acknowledgment on social media, writing that he had made a careless remark and adding, I will not make any excuses. It is entirely my fault (quoted via the source). He continued, When I think about the hurt that the victim, who endured difficult times and mustered the courage to attend the forum, must have felt upon learning of this remark belatedly, I cannot hold my head up (HANI documented the apology). Seo stated an intention to visit Kim personally to offer direct amends if permitted (the outlet noted).
Jin released an equivalent statement admitting that there was no room for excuse. The Olympic champion acknowledged that public figures must recognize the heavy weight carried by their words (according to regional coverage). Internal criticism also surfaced within their political camp. People Power Party Spokesperson Kim Hyo-eun denounced the exchange in sharp terms, stating on social media that the brief dialogue delivered a cruel second instance of victimization driven by political excitement rather than empathy (the publication reported).
Victim Rejection and Broader Legislative Stances
Kim rejected the offered apologies outright while addressing reporters at the venue. I have no need to see them and no intention of receiving an apology. Instead, she directed attention back to the core legislative subject of the gathering, expressing frustration over government policy surrounding investigative authorities (the source detailed).
Right now, what is important is that crime victims are living in hell and the people have come to live in hell. I hope you will focus on that issue. Kim Jin-joo, crime survivor, via Yonhap News TV
The seminar itself proceeded with Han leading discussions against the rollback of prosecutorial powers, though the pre-meeting remarks overshadowed the policy debate. With both politicians pledging self-reflection, attention remains focused on whether legislative debates can maintain focus on victim welfare without descending into institutional trivialization.
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