On Wednesday, Democratic Party of Korea members demanded the dismissal of charges against President Lee Jae Myung in the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case, denouncing it as a clear instance of fabricated prosecution. They vowed to thoroughly investigate the truth behind the allegations and hold those responsible accountable to uphold justice.
Members of the committee pushing for a parliamentary investigation into the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s alleged fabricated indictment, including Lee Geon-tae, Park Sung-jun, Lee Yong-woo, Lee Joo-hee, Yang Bu-nam, and Park Sun-won, held a press conference at the National Assembly. They asserted that the indictment must be dismissed in accordance with criminal procedure law principles.
Citing a special inspection report from the Ministry of Justice, they claimed that former Ssangbangwool Chairman Kim stated during a prison visit that he had not provided any funds for President Lee.
The lawmakers noted that Kim expressed frustration to an acquaintance, saying he would admit to giving money if he had, but couldn’t because he hadn’t. They added that it’s clear that Kim’s false testimony resulted from intense pressure from prosecutors. Evidence also shows he instructed his subordinates and Ahn Boo-soo to cooperate in fabricating statements under this duress.
They continued that the prosecution’s core evidence against President Lee relied on testimonies from Kim and related individuals. However, Kim’s prison recordings unequivocally reveal that his statements were false and coerced by prosecutors.
The lawmakers asserted that if prosecutors fail to rectify this situation despite this new evidence, they will be neglecting their duty to serve the public interest. The Democratic Party and the National Assembly will ensure they are held accountable.” They also requested that the Ministry of Justice submit a comprehensive 1,600-page report to the committee.
Following the press conference, Representative Lee Geon-tae informed reporters that it plans to submit a request for a parliamentary investigation during the National Assembly’s plenary session on March 12. It aims to swiftly approve the plan and conclude the investigation by April. He added that once the investigation is complete, it will discuss how to proceed with the dismissal of charges based on the findings.
