Five family members of victims of the Sewol ferry tragedy are being questioned after allegedly being involved in a brawl on a street in Yeouido, Seoul, early Wednesday, police said.
They include Kim Byeong-won, head of the association of victims’ family members, and Kim Hyeong-gi, the vice head of the group.
According to police, the group drank together with Rep. Kim Hyun of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy for hours. Kim called a driving escort service to take her home because she was drunk.
However, the driver had to wait for more than 30 minutes because the lawmaker continued to drink.
The driver became angry and had an argument with the lawmaker. The family members allegedly provoked the driver, saying, “Do you know who she is? She is a lawmaker. Show her respect.”
After seeing the driver being beaten up by the family members, two passersby tried to help the driver. However, they ended up fighting with the family members, police said.
The incident occurred less than a day after President Park Geun-hye formally rejected a proposal to set up a special investigative committee with extra-judicial authority.
This may worsen public sentiment against the victims’ family members, who have been criticized by conservative groups for deepening political conflict.
The family members told the police that they were beaten up by two passersby while speaking with the driver. The passersby claim the family members attacked them.
It is unknown whether Rep. Kim was hurt. Her aide refused to comment on her condition.
The group of victims’ families later offered an apology for the incident.