Seoul: The floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Wednesday called for the immediate dismissal of the chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA), accusing a senior police official of using physical force against a legislative aide earlier this week.

According to Yonhap News Agency, PPP floor leader Jeong Jeom-sig stated at a general meeting of the party's lawmakers that the head of the SMPA's security division committed violence by twisting the arm of a National Assembly aide and grabbing him by the neck during a lawmakers' visit. Jeong urged President Lee Jae Myung to immediately dismiss the SMPA chief and the head of its security division.

The incident occurred on Tuesday when a scuffle broke out as PPP lawmakers visited the SMPA to protest remarks by the agency's chief, Park Jeong-bo. Park had warned that demonstrators protesting ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections could face serious consequences if found participating in illegal activities or being accomplices.

A video capturing the brief scuffle between the senior police official and the aide was posted online by a PPP lawmaker and quickly spread on social media, intensifying calls for accountability.

Park's remarks were in reference to an incident involving some protesters searching through the personal belongings of members of the women's national youth handball team at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's southern district of Jamsil.