innovation Party Secretary General Orders Investigation After Admitting Knowledge of Controversial Karaoke Outing
SEOUL – Hwang Hyun-sun, Secretary General of the Innovation Party, announced an immediate investigation into a karaoke outing attended by party officials on December 12, 2024, the same day the Supreme court delivered its verdict in a sexual harassment case involving a former party representative. Hwang revealed he was aware of the timing of the event, stating, “I knew that the day I went to the karaoke…was December 12, 2024, when [the former representative] was sentenced by the Supreme Court.”
The investigation follows allegations made by Kang Mi-jung, a former spokesperson for the Innovation Party, who publicly exposed the incident and other misconduct within the party on April 4th, leading to her departure. reports indicate the karaoke gathering was intended as a morale-boosting event following the unfavorable court decision.
hwang Hyun-sun has requested a “thorough investigation” from the Ministry of Auditor regarding both the dinner and karaoke event. He expressed “shame and anger” and apologized for a perceived failure in party discipline, adding he has asked for an investigation into “the dignity and inadequate behavior of the watchers.”
The former party representative was initially sentenced to two years in prison in February 2023, later increased to three years and two months. the Supreme Court upheld the conviction on December 12, 2024, and the former representative began serving their sentence on December 16, 2024.