Kim Eui-gyeom, who raised suspicions about drinking in Cheongdam-dong, denied the allegations at the first trial.

Former lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom, who was put on trial for defamation by raising so-called "Cheongdam-dong Drinking" allegations against President Yoon Suk Yeol and former People's Power Representative Han Dong-hoon, denied all charges in his first trial.

Former lawmaker Kim said at the first hearing held today (20th) at the Seoul Central District Court that he denies the entire indictment.

The suspicion of drinking in Cheongdam-dong is that in July 2022, President Yoon and former CEO Han had a drinking party with 30 lawyers at a bar in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, and the prosecution concluded that the suspicion was not based on cellist A's lies.

The prosecution judged that former lawmaker Kim and former CEO of The Exploration Kang Jin-gu conspired with cellist A's ex-boyfriend to force A's interview and make false broadcasts.

Former lawmaker Kim aired a false broadcast on YouTube in October 2022 that "the suspicion of drinking in Cheongdam-dong" was true, and handed it over to trial without detention for defamation.