"Feels Like Watching the Movie Asura Deja Vu"... Kim Ki-hyun Launches Fierce Attack on Lee Jae-myung's Alleged Persuasion Attempt

"Attempt to Pin Crime Charges Fails Before the Truth"
"The Key Issue Is Whether Bangul's North Korea Remittance Constitutes Bribery"

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, targeted Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 10th, saying, "It feels like a d?j? vu of the movie Asura."

At the People Power Party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Kim said, "Lee's attempt to cut off the tail of the criminal charges is ultimately being neutralized in the face of truth, and the substantial truth is beginning to emerge," adding, "Although the desperate attempt to save Lee Jae-myung, the boss, is reaching its peak, the method is so clumsy and amateurish that it is obvious what is inside, which makes me think that he must be in a very urgent situation."

Kim mentioned the movie to criticize a series of controversies surrounding the trial of former Gyeonggi Province Peace Deputy Governor Lee Hwa-young, who was indicted in the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case. Lee has attracted political attention as her testimony has been reversed regarding the 2019 North Korean smart farm project costs and North Korea visit expenses in Gyeonggi Province. Lee has maintained that she "never requested the payment of North Korea visit expenses" and therefore "never reported it to Lee." However, recently, the prosecution announced that it secured a statement from Lee that she requested Ssangbangwool's cooperation in promoting the North Korea visit and reported this process to Lee. Subsequently, there were suggestions that depending on what Lee says at the trial, additional charges could be applied to Lee Jae-myung.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding this, Kim said, "It is known that Lee testified to the prosecution that Ssangbangwool agreed to pay the North Korea visit expenses on behalf of then-Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee (now Lee Jae-myung) in 2019, and since then, unreasonable events have occurred one after another," adding, "Immediately after Lee's testimony, a marital quarrel suspected of being a backroom deal broke out in the courtroom, a lawyer against Lee's wishes was appointed, and a motion to disqualify the court and evidence opinions unknown to Lee were submitted by that lawyer. It was confirmed that these were not Lee's intentions and were invalidated." He continued, "This lawyer is known to be a pro-Lee faction who previously handled Lee's public election law violation case, and I strongly suspect that he took on the defense with the intention of silencing Lee to protect Lee Jae-myung and make Lee take all the responsibility alone. If so, this lawyer's actions not only violate legal ethics but may also constitute the serious crime of concealing a crime under criminal law. A thorough investigation into this matter is absolutely necessary."

He explained, "The core of this case is whether the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance can constitute bribery related to then-Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee's promotion of the North Korea visit," adding, "Because Lee Hwa-young's truthful confession could lead to the detention of Lee Jae-myung, it is judged that Lee Jae-myung is facing the necessity to desperately silence Lee Hwa-young."

Referring to the movie Asura, Kim said, "The scene where the mayor of Annam City orders his aides to coax and threaten witnesses seems to be reenacted in today's reality," adding, "It is so confusing that I wonder whether I am watching the news or a movie." He said, "In that movie, despite all kinds of evil deeds and witness coercion and threats, the truth was revealed, and all the characters headed toward a catastrophe. The power of truth could not be stopped by tricks," emphasizing, "Attempts to block justice and the rule of law with power are nothing but illusions, and this will soon be proven."

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