Former Civil Affairs Secretary Lee Kwang-cheol Refuses to Testify in Trial Over Alleged Interference in Ulsan Mayoral Election

Kwang-chul Lee, Former Blue House Civil Affairs Secretary / Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former Blue House Civil Affairs Secretary Lee Gwang-cheol appeared as a witness in the trial of the 'Blue House Ulsan Mayor Election Interference Allegation' case but refused to testify.

On the 11th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21-3 (Presiding Judges Jang Yongbeom, Ma Seongyoung, Kim Jeonggon) held a continuation trial for six people, including former Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho, former Vice Mayor Song Byeong-gi, Democratic Party lawmaker Hwang Unha, and former Blue House Civil Affairs Secretary Baek Won-woo.

On that day, former Secretary Lee said, "I will exercise my right to refuse to testify not only against prosecutors but also during all questioning by defense attorneys." He explained, "It is expected to directly affect the indictment decision of the case currently under appeal at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office."

According to the Criminal Procedure Act, a person may refuse to testify about matters that may reveal facts that could lead to criminal prosecution, indictment, or a guilty verdict against themselves.

Earlier, former Secretary Lee was summoned for investigation in January 2020 along with other Blue House officials on suspicion of being involved in passing intelligence related to Kim Gi-hyeon, a member of the People Power Party (former Ulsan Mayor), to the police. The People Power Party filed an appeal after the prosecution decided not to indict former Secretary Lee.

The Ulsan Mayor election interference allegation involves claims that before the 2018 local elections, Blue House officials committed various illegal and illicit acts, including ordering the police to conduct a directed investigation to help former Mayor Song win and to defeat his competitor, then-Mayor Kim Gi-hyeon.

Additionally, the prosecution's view is that internal information from the central or local government was illegally used to establish former Mayor Song's election pledges. Mayor Song is well known as a close friend of former President Moon Jae-in for 30 years.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.