Kim Ha-su, 66, the county chief of Cheongdo in North Gyeongsang Province who sparked controversy for verbally abusing a nursing home employee, has now been booked by police on charges of trespassing and intimidation.
Cheongdo Police Station in North Gyeongsang Province announced on the 11th that Kim is under investigation on charges of trespassing and intimidation. Kim was questioned by police on the 4th.
In March last year, Kim called the director of K Nursing Home and unleashed vulgar language at employee A, saying "I'll kill you" and "Isn't that the crazy b****." When the director said "Your words are too harsh," Kim continued in agitation, saying "Tell them I won't forgive them. Do they want to die?"
When Director K reported the recorded call to the media, Kim visited Director K's residence on the night of January 11th, the day before the story was published. According to Director K, home security camera footage shows Kim and Cheongdo county official B opening the front gate without permission and entering the property at around 7:20 p.m.
Director K claims that when his wife opened the front door and tried to close it saying "My husband is not home," Kim forced the door open, pushed his wife toward the wall, and entered the living room.
"The children were frightened, so my wife fled to a bedroom. I also locked the bedroom door and shouted for her to call the police," Director K said. Kim subsequently left the premises with official B. Director K believes Kim trespassed in an attempt to prevent the verbal abuse story from being published.
After the recording was made public, Kim held a press conference and bowed his head, saying "I sincerely apologize to the county residents for causing concern with my inappropriate words and actions." Kim, a member of the ruling People Power Party, has currently applied for party nomination for his reelection bid. Police plan to conclude the case after completing a legal review.
