[Anchor]

The victim of the Busan roundhouse kick case attended a seminar on supplementary investigation powers held at the National Assembly today (August 4). However, before the victim entered the room, a People Power Party lawmaker drew heavy criticism for making thoughtless remarks that seemed to make light of the incident. As the controversy grew, the lawmaker issued an apology, bowing his head to the victim.

Reporter Son Hyeong-an has the details.

[Reporter]

This afternoon, a National Assembly seminar titled "Prohibiting Supplementary Investigations Opens the Gates of Hell" was hosted by independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon's office.

Attendees included lawmakers such as Han Dong-hoon, who have criticized the pan-ruling bloc's criminal procedure amendment bill to abolish prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers, as well as Kim Jin-joo, the victim of the Busan roundhouse kick case.

Before the seminar officially began and before lawmaker Han Dong-hoon and victim Kim Jin-joo entered the conference room, People Power Party lawmaker Seo Bum-soo, who was already seated, made the following remark to fellow party lawmaker Jin Jong-oh.

[Seo Bum-soo / People Power Party Lawmaker: Lawmaker Jin Jong-oh, why don't you do a round of roundhouse kicks.]

When this remark became known, a wave of criticism followed, calling it an insensitive comment that completely forgot the suffering of a crime victim.

Lawmaker Seo posted an apology on social media.

He wrote that he made a slip of the tongue before the seminar began and that it was entirely his fault.

Stating that the pain of crime victimization should never be taken lightly or casually brought up, he offered his sincere apology, bowing his head to the victim and her family who must have heard the news belatedly.

He added that he would visit them in person to apologize.

People Power Party lawmaker Jin Jong-oh, who was reported to have given some sort of response to lawmaker Seo's remark, also stated that a victim's suffering should never be lightly mentioned or trivialized, and extended his deepest apologies to the victim and her family.

(Video reporting: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video editing: Oh Young-taek | Design: Seo Seung-hyun)