[2023 National Audit] Yoo Sang-beom "If Fake News Allegations Are Not Clarified, Central District Prosecutors' Office Should Be Shut Down"

Yoo Sang-beom, a member of the People Power Party, stated that if the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office fails to uncover the truth behind the 'Newstapa false interview' incident and the 'Choi Jae-kyung recording manipulation' incident, it should be shut down.

On the 17th, during the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, Yoo said these incidents cannot be seen as individual crimes and urged a thorough investigation into the masterminds behind them.

Yoo said, "The Kim Dae-up folding screen manipulation incident is regarded as the top contributor to DJ's victory. The Druking comment manipulation incident occurred even though everyone said President Moon Jae-in would win," adding, "Such manipulation incidents in the election system are crimes that shake the essence of the election system, which is the core of democracy, and can be considered acts of national disorder."

Yoo asked Song Kyung-ho, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, "Do you agree with my view?" Song replied, "I think most people would agree."

Yoo said, "In the 20th presidential election, there was the Kim Man-bae-Shin Hak-rim interview manipulation incident. JTBC's report on Yoon Seok-yeol's coffee also occurred. All of these happened through manipulated recordings."

He continued, "Even more shocking was the incident of fabricating a double. There was an incident where a double was used to create a recording of the famous former high-ranking prosecutor Choi Jae-kyung," Yoo said.

Yoo said, "The person who acted as this double is Choi, an aide to Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-wook. As everyone knows, Kim Byung-wook was a member of the 7-person group close to Lee Jae-myung and served as the head of the Hwacheon Daeyu fact-finding TF. Choi imitated former head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Criminal Investigation Department Choi Jae-kyung to make the recording, which was then delivered to reporter Heo through Kim," adding, "This is stated in the search warrant. Can you confirm this fact?" Song replied, "Since the investigation is ongoing, it is difficult to provide specific details."

Yoo said, "This is reported in the media. It is stated in the warrant. It includes statements from a person named Lee Cheol-soo, and inside, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-wook is quoted as saying, 'I will organize everything and try to make it once. After organizing it a bit more, I will make it a case of fighting against a huge old evil.' Choi said, 'This is what the People Power Party has been doing for 10 years. If we create this picture, it will succeed.' This content is said to be written in the search warrant. Can you confirm this?" Song replied, "It is difficult to answer as the investigation is ongoing."

Yoo pointed to a PPT slide and said, "This is the backdrop content from the Democratic Party meeting during the presidential election. Tremendous efforts were made in the Democratic Party to turn the so-called Daejang-dong corruption into the Yoon Seok-yeol Gate. I believe such manipulation incidents occurred amid these efforts."

He said, "So, I tried to organize a timeline of the false report suspicions. On February 21, JTBC reported on the prosecutor-made coffee; on February 25, during the presidential TV debate, candidate Lee Jae-myung repeatedly asked Yoon Seok-yeol, 'Why did you make coffee for Jo Woo-hyung?' On March 1, a false recording of former head of the Criminal Investigation Department Choi Jae-kyung was reported; on March 6, Kim Man-bae's voice file was falsely reported through Newstapa; on March 6, Lee Jae-myung used it for election campaigning by saying 'Please widely share' on Facebook; on March 6, MBC devoted four segments to falsely report that 'Yoon Seok-yeol just overlooked it'; and on March 7, text messages were sent to 4.75 million people."

He continued, "Looking at this series of events from February 21 to March 7, my judgment is that the presidential election manipulation cannot be seen as a sudden act by one person. Especially, the media reports confirm the statement in lawmaker Kim Byung-wook's recording, 'It is a case of fighting against a huge old evil. I will organize everything for the candidate and make it.' I believe this matter cannot be regarded as an individual crime," and asked, "What is the prosecutor's opinion?"

Song replied, "We are taking the matter seriously and will thoroughly investigate all raised suspicions. I believe there will be an opportunity to explain later."

Yoo said, "I don't remember what lawmaker Kim Byung-wook said about this report. He explained to the media that he learned about the report for the first time this time. However, he is a secretary who participated in the TF, and I believe no citizen would think that a secretary could commit such a shocking crime without reporting to the lawmaker," adding, "If the Central District Prosecutors' Office cannot clarify these parts, I think it should be shut down. I urge a thorough investigation. Shouldn't the truth be accurately uncovered?"

Yoo also said, "Do you think lawmaker Kim Byung-wook did such a huge act alone?" and added, "Criminals always have accomplices. Everyone tries to involve someone when committing a crime. I believe it is impossible that Lee Jae-myung was not informed. I urge a thorough investigation."

Song replied, "The investigation will proceed based on evidence and legal principles, and of course, we will also examine the scope of criminal responsibility and who is personally liable."

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