Prosecutor Kim Young-cheol: "'Jang Si-ho's Son Birthday Party' Claim is False... Will Hold Responsible"

Issued a Statement Denying Internet Media Claims
"No Acquaintance with Former Black Pearl CEO Lee Jong-ho"

Prosecutor Kim Young-chul, who was identified by some internet media as the person who coaxed Jang Si-ho, the niece of Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil), directly issued a statement refuting the claim that he held a birthday party for Jang's son as "an absurd falsehood."

Kim Young-chul, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office, stated in a statement on the 15th, "Even a basic verification of facts immediately reveals this as a clear lie," adding, "The birthday of Ms. Jang's (Jang Si-ho) son on February 11, 2018, was after I had completed my special prosecutor dispatch and returned to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office as a researcher on February 5, 2018."

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim further pointed out the error, saying, "I cannot understand how I, who was not even working at the special prosecutor's office at the time, could have called Ms. Jang to the special prosecutor's office to hold a birthday party for her son." He also explained, "It is unimaginable to decorate with a cake and birthday decorations while the prison guards are on duty and hold a birthday party with her son for Ms. Jang, who is incarcerated."

Jang Si-ho, who appeared at the trial held at the Seoul High Court in June 2020
Photo by Yonhap News

The YouTube channel 'Newtamsa' released an interview on the 10th with Mr. A, who claimed to have shared prison life with Ms. Jang. In the interview, Mr. A asserted that "Ms. Jang and Prosecutor Kim had a special relationship" and "I heard that a birthday party for Ms. Jang's son was held at the special prosecutor's office." Earlier, in May, 'Newtamsa' raised suspicions based on a 2020 recording of Ms. Jang conversing with an acquaintance, alleging that Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim coaxed Ms. Jang or coached her testimony during his dispatch to the special prosecutor's office investigating the state affairs manipulation scandal and maintained a personal relationship with her.

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim stated, "'The 'Cheongdam-dong drinking party' fake news protagonist, the above YouTuber, broadcasted again several unverified and absurd claims by Mr. A, who is known to have been sentenced multiple times for drug crimes, without any effort to verify the facts." He added, "Absurd falsehoods about me are being amplified and reproduced as if they were true by some YouTubers and internet media."

He continued, "Based on these ridiculous lies, the ruling Democratic Party has even proceeded to propose impeachment against me," emphasizing, "Even though the facts have been clearly clarified, if related content is not corrected, I will hold those responsible for malicious actions accountable through additional legal measures."

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim also denied the report by 'Newstapa' claiming his acquaintance with Lee Jong-ho, former CEO of Black Pearl Investment, who is a co-conspirator in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case and a key figure in the recent 'Im Seong-geun lobbying allegation.' On the 12th, Newstapa reported that during a phone call in August last year between whistleblower lawyer Mr. B and former CEO Lee, Lee mentioned Kim Young-chul, then head of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Mr. B claimed that Lee suggested meeting Prosecutor Kim for networking purposes.

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim stated, "I only know that a person named Mr. Lee (Lee Jong-ho), claimed by an internet media outlet, is a defendant in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case, but I do not know him personally at all and have never met him." He warned, "I strongly regret the act of allowing baseless false content to be disseminated based on an unverifiable audio file, which appears to have been released by a specific person with a particular purpose and intent, and those responsible will inevitably face corresponding consequences."

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