Lee Hwa-young publicly demands parole, saying he is “very angry with President Lee”

[Financial News] Lee Hwa-young, former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace, has reportedly demanded parole from President Lee Jae-myung. The Supreme Court upheld his prison sentence on charges of taking bribes worth hundreds of millions of won from the Ssangbangwool Group and conspiring in an $8 million transfer to North Korea.
On the 7th, attorney Kim Gwang-min, who represents the former vice governor, shared an article about his media interview on social media (SNS) and stated this position. The article said that Lee was asking the Blue House for parole.
In the interview, he said, “As the former vice governor enters his fifth year in prison, he is very angry with President Lee,” adding, “He has conveyed through various channels to President Lee’s side that he wants to be paroled, but they have not acted, and it is becoming difficult to wait any longer.”
In response, attorney Kim wrote on social media (SNS), “Some have criticized the interview for going too far in its wording. But the reality of declaring the North Korea remittance case fabricated while completely neglecting someone who has been imprisoned for five years over that very case is far harsher and more cruel,” he argued.
He posted again, arguing, “They turn a blind eye to the prosecutors’ contempt of court and dereliction of duty when they collectively walked out of the courtroom during the North Korea remittance case, while former vice governor Lee, who is contesting the truth, remains locked in a cold prison.” He also argued, “The truth must be revealed.”
Lee is serving a sentence of seven years and eight months in prison, handed down by the Supreme Court on charges including taking bribes worth hundreds of millions of won from the Ssangbangwool Group and conspiring in an $8 million transfer to North Korea. Last June, a further four months were added to his sentence for perjury in connection with claims of inducement surrounding the so-called “salmon drinking party.”
[email protected] Kim Hee-seon Reporter