Kwon Seong-dong, upon being questioned by a reporter, grabbed her wrist and instructed, "Hold her so she can't escape."

Footage has emerged showing Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, forcibly pulling a female reporter from Newstapa while she was asking him questions. He also used expressions like "fake news" and "hold her so she can't escape."

According to a video released by Newstapa on the 16th, Kwon confronted the reporter with, "Who are you here to cover?" after the 'Constitutional Court and Election Commission Reform Forum' ended in the corridor of the National Assembly office building.

When the reporter replied, "The forum," he refused to answer questions. He then grabbed the wrist of the female reporter holding a microphone and pulled her away.

When the reporter said, "Please apologize for your act of violence," Kwon only told his media chief, "Restrict her access."

He then instructed those around him, saying, "Hold her so she can't escape." When the reporter protested, "Freedom of the press is guaranteed by the Constitution," he dismissed her by saying, "Newstapa is not media. It's fake news," and proceeded to take the elevator.

Newstapa to File Charges for Assault and Defamation

YouTube 'Newstapa'

Newstapa stated that the reporter was questioning in the corridor as she could not obtain a background briefing opportunity and intended to ask whether former President Yoon Seok-yeol intended to apologize to the public regarding his impeachment and the early presidential election held during the 12/3 martial law situation.

The media union Newstapa branch strongly condemned the physical violence of the floor leader of a political party grabbing the wrist of a female reporter and demanded a public apology and measures to prevent recurrence.

Newstapa announced plans to file charges against Kwon for assault, injury, and defamation soon.

Kwon Seong-dong Refutes, "Intrusive Reporting is Not Freedom of the Press"

As the controversy escalated, Kwon immediately issued a statement to refute the allegations. He claimed, "The reporter's actions were a physical threat disguised as reporting and an intimidating approach," asserting, "The act of physically approaching despite her clear refusal to be interviewed cannot be protected as freedom of the press."

He also stated, "Restricting access was a defensive response intended to be handed over to the National Assembly's security department. Unauthorized filming might also violate National Assembly regulations. I will clarify the truth through legal procedures and firmly respond to false claims."

Image source: youtube 'Newstapa', Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party / News1