Prosecutors summon witness in groping case against independent Rep. Jang Gyeong-tae

Prosecutors have launched an investigation into independent Rep. Jang Gyeong-tae, who faces allegations of groping a female aide, summoning a key witness — the former partner of the alleged victim — for questioning.

The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office on Thursday called in a man identified only as B, the former partner of aide A, as a reference witness in the case against Jang. Jang faces charges of quasi-forcible indecent assault and violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Jang is accused of making inappropriate physical contact with A, a staffer from another lawmaker's office, at a restaurant in Yeouido in October 2024.

B had visited the restaurant that day to pick up his then-girlfriend and witnessed what appeared to be the assault, later providing video footage of the incident to the media.

Jang denied the allegations and filed a counter-complaint against A on charges including false accusation, also requesting a police investigation review committee hearing. Both the committee and police upheld the groping allegations against him.

Police also applied charges of "secondary victimization" after determining that Jang had partially revealed A's identity as a National Assembly staffer during a question-and-answer session with reporters.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office transferred the case to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office in April over jurisdictional grounds.

Meanwhile, the ethics tribunal of the Democratic Party of Korea voted in April to impose a disciplinary measure equivalent to expulsion on Jang over the groping allegations. Jang left the party on March 20, saying he did not want to be a burden to it, and the disciplinary action came 17 days later. The ruling was based on party regulations — Articles 18 and 19 — governing the investigation and discipline of members who commit misconduct even after leaving the party.

Han Dong-su, head of the ethics tribunal, said the rules require that a member who leaves the party to avoid disciplinary action be subject to a sanction equivalent to expulsion. "It differs in character from an actual expulsion, but its practical effect is the same," Han said.

yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com