Chairperson Kim Yong-tae of the People Power Party said on the 13th regarding President Lee Jae-myung's trial related to North Korean remittances, "There may be impunity during the President's term, but there cannot be absolution."
On that day, Chairperson Kim met with reporters at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, and emphasized, "The public has the right to know whether there are grounds for the criminal charges against the President prior to his term, and especially serious criminal allegations like illegal remittances to North Korea are crucial information about the President's execution of duties."
Chairperson Kim noted, "If the trial is postponed until after the term, the public's right to know will disappear, and distrust in inter-Korean exchange projects will only increase," adding, "The constitutional clause on immunity under Article 84 should not become a means to conceal the truth."
He continued, "All citizens are equal before the law. A judicial determination regarding the President's alleged crimes before his term is essential for the people's sovereignty and the transparency of state policy," urging independent and wise judgment from the judiciary.
On that day, Chairperson Kim also mentioned the recent decision by the Supreme Court to confirm a prison sentence of 7 years and 8 months for Lee Hwa-young, former vice governor of Gyeonggi Province, who was indicted for accepting bribes of over 300 million won from SSANGBANGWOOL Group and for being involved in a $8 million remittance to North Korea.
The SSANGBANGWOOL North Korean remittance scandal arises from allegations that Gyeonggi Province promised $5 million in support for a smart farm project to the North and that SSANGBANGWOOL covered the expenses of $3 million for President Lee Jae-myung's trip to North Korea when he was the governor. In relation to this case, President Lee was separately indicted last June and is currently undergoing a first trial at the Suwon District Court.
Recently, both the 7th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court and the 33rd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court made decisions to postpone the trials related to the electoral law violation rehearing and other cases involving President Lee Jae-myung according to presidential immunity. Chairperson Kim criticized these actions as being in direct opposition to the public's right to know and the principles of the rule of law.