Kim Bong-hyeon, head of Suwon District Prosecution Office: “I understand a recording of attempts to sway Lee Hwa-young’s testimony surfaced”

[Financial News] The dispute over allegations of a fabricated prosecution in the Ssangbangwool case involving remittances to North Korea continued at an audit by the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Kim Bong-hyeon, chief of the Suwon District Prosecution Office, said he understood that a recording of attempts to sway former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace Lee Hwa-young’s testimony had surfaced.
At an audit of the Suwon District Prosecution Office on the morning of the 19th, Chief Kim was asked by Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party, “Do you believe there was an attempt to sway the former vice governor at the time?” He replied, “The person concerned says there wasn’t, but I understand that a recording of attempts to sway the testimony surfaced.” He held back from saying more, adding, “It is difficult for me to answer because the case is on trial.”
The recording in question refers to a transcript of a phone call between lawyer Seo Min-seok, who was then representing the former vice governor, and prosecutor Park Sang-yong. Asked whether the call amounted to an attempt to sway testimony, Chief Kim responded that making the call itself had been inappropriate.
The so-called “salmon-and-drinking party” allegations also came under scrutiny. When Yoon asked, “Was there a salmon-and-drinking party at the time? Was there alcohol, too?”, Chief Kim said, “It has been confirmed that outside food was brought in. There were also some indications that alcohol was brought in.” When Yoon said, “Lawyer Seo Min-seok testified that he went there himself but didn’t get that impression,” Chief Kim replied, “It wasn’t an atmosphere where people could drink freely.”
When Yoon asked, “If the allegations of an attempt to sway testimony come to light and the fact-finding team requests it, would you withdraw the prosecution?”, Chief Kim said, “I have never received such a request,” and ruled out further comment on the grounds that the related case was on trial.
The ruling party questioned the appointment of a person implicated in the allegations to a key post. Kim Dong-ah of the Democratic Party of Korea criticized the appointment, saying, “Investigator A, who wrote the report at the time, holds a key post at the Suwon District Prosecution Office, handling personnel and other duties.” He added, “Investigator A says, ‘I was busy, so I wrote the report afterward and had it stamped.’ Wouldn’t that make Investigator A a criminal?” Chief Kim explained, “Personnel work is one of the jobs everyone avoids, and there were not many staff members who had worked in personnel.”
The allegations of a fabricated prosecution stem from claims that an interview report written by then-Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office prosecutor Park Sang-yong was false. Park investigated the former vice governor’s case involving remittances to North Korea. Yoon questioned whether the investigation had been unlawful, pointing out that the Suwon District Prosecution Office is handling two cases related to President Lee Jae-myung.
The salmon-and-drinking-party allegations have already been considered in court once. The former vice governor has appealed after receiving a four-month prison sentence in the first-instance trial on charges of perjury before the National Assembly in connection with the allegations. In the first-instance jury trial, four of the seven jurors concluded that the former vice governor had not been provided with alcohol, and the court respected their finding and convicted him.
The former vice governor is serving a final sentence of seven years and eight months and has been in prison for more than four years. His lawyer argued for parole, but Acting Justice Minister Lee Jin-su said he did not meet the legal requirements. With the appeal in the perjury case and other trials, including one over bribery, still pending, he had not met the requirement to serve at least one-third of each sentence.
[email protected] Kim Dong-gyu Reporter