[2022 National Audit] Ruling and Opposition Clash Over 'Ssangbangwool and Doich Motors Investigation' at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Hearing

Ruling Party: "Kim Geon-hee's Involvement in Deutsche Motors Stock Manipulation Is Nonsense"
Opposition: "Replacement of Prosecutor Leading Ssangbangwool Investigation Clearly Sends Message to Fabricate Case"

Prosecutor General Lee Joo-hyung of Suwon High Prosecutors' Office is taking the oath as a witness at the National Assembly's audit on Seoul High Prosecutors' Office held on the 18th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] During the National Assembly inspection of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, both ruling and opposition parties focused their questions on the West Sea government official killing incident, the forced repatriation of North Korean fishermen incident, and cases related to the Ssangbangwool Group.

At the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee inspection held on the 18th regarding the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, People Power Party lawmaker Park Hyung-soo asked, "There was a report in 2019 that dozens of Ssangbangwool executives hid dollars and yuan in bookmarks or cosmetic cases and delivered them to the vice chairman of the Ssangbangwool Group. Is it true that the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office is investigating this?"

Hong Seung-wook, head of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, replied, "It is true that we are investigating corruption related to the Ssangbangwool management, but I find it difficult to comment on specific details," avoiding a direct answer.

The opposition party pointed out suspicions that First Lady Kim Geon-hee was involved in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case. Democratic Party lawmaker Kwon Chil-seung mentioned that during the trial of the Deutsche Motors case, there was testimony that Mr. Lee helped transfer Kim's securities account to another securities firm account, and asked, "Has the prosecution investigated Mr. Lee?"

In response, Song Kyung-ho, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, said, "As the investigation is ongoing, I cannot disclose specific case progress, evidence relations, or future investigation plans for any case under investigation or trial."

People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Sang-beom countered that the suspicion of First Lady Kim's involvement in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case itself is absurd. Yoo said, "For a stock manipulation offender to manipulate stocks to some extent, they need to hold at least about 20% of the total shares. However, among the 20.58 million issued shares, Kim only holds 3,450 shares, so the controversy itself is nonsense."

Yoo also asked Prosecutor Song, "What is your perception of the West Sea government official incident?" Song replied, "After the missing report of the West Sea government official was received, the official was found, shot, and burned, and later the related national agencies concluded it was a defection to the North. We are conducting an investigation into whether the national agencies properly performed their duties as mandated by the Constitution and laws, whether there are criminal responsibility issues based on the facts during the process, and if so, the extent of those issues."

The Democratic Party also raised questions about the sudden replacement of Kim Hyung-rok, the second deputy chief prosecutor who was directing the investigation related to the Ssangbangwool Group (currently dispatched to the Board of Audit and Inspection).

Lawmaker Kim Nam-guk said, "There has been considerable criticism and suspicion regarding the personnel change of the second deputy chief prosecutor at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office. He was suddenly dispatched just two months after his appointment, and the successor is known as a close aide of Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, who is considered a core member of the Yoon Seok-yeol faction, which raises significant doubts."

Regarding this, Prosecutor Hong responded, "There was a request from the Board of Audit and Inspection to dispatch a competent prosecutor, and the previous second deputy chief prosecutor was one of the most capable and virtuous prosecutors I have worked with, so I understand he was dispatched."

Then, Lawmaker Kim said, "The message this personnel change sends is clear: it means removing a competent prosecutor and inserting one from their own faction to conduct the investigation as instructed, sending this message to the prosecution organization."

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