Fact-Finding Parliamentary Committee on Alleged Manipulated Indictment Issues Subpoena for Former Ssangbangwool Chairman Kim Sungtae

The National Assembly's Special Committee for the Investigation of the Truth Behind the Yoon Suk-yeol Administration's Political Prosecution and Fabricated Indictment Allegations has issued a subpoena for former Ssangbangwool Chairman Kim Sung-tae.

On the morning of April 14, the special committee, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, held a plenary session at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, and approved the motion to issue a subpoena for former Chairman Kim.

Former Ssangbangwool Chairman Kim Sung-tae is appearing on January 8, 2026, at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Human Rights Violation Inspection Task Force (TF) in Seocho-gu, Seoul, to be questioned regarding the 'salmon and liquor party inducement allegations' raised during the investigation of the 'Ssangbangwool North Korea Remittance Case.' Photo by Kang Jinhyung

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In response, Song Seokjun, a member of the People Power Party, stated, "The stated purpose is to uncover the truth about whether there was a fabricated indictment, but our party's stance, and my own view, is that this hearing is clearly a fabricated hearing designed to manipulate the facts." He added, "A proper investigatory hearing should summon appropriate witnesses for questioning and testimony, but looking at the individuals present today, it is clear that only those favorable to the Democratic Party's interests have been selectively invited."

Song further pointed out, "The witnesses I requested were President Lee Jaemyung, former head of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Yoo Donggyu, and Kim Manbae, but not a single one was called. Yet, they are going out of their way to issue a subpoena for former Chairman Kim, which is extremely unfair."

In response, Yang Bunam, a Democratic Party lawmaker, explained, "When former Chairman Kim was first apprehended and brought back to Korea, he stated that it had nothing to do with Gyeonggi Province or then-Representative Lee Jaemyung, and that he did not know them. However, during the prosecution's investigation, he testified that the remittance to North Korea was to cover Representative Lee's expenses for his visit to the North."

Yang also emphasized, "Recently, in an interview, he made statements contradicting his previous testimony, claiming that the expenses for the visit to North Korea were unrelated to Gyeonggi Province or President Lee. It is necessary for him to come before the National Assembly's investigation and clarify which statement is true."

Former Chairman Kim is a key figure in the Ssangbangwool North Korea Remittance Case. During the prosecution's investigation, he testified that in 2019, he met Ri Ho-nam, a North Korean operative, in the Philippines and delivered 700,000 dollars, which was allegedly part of the expenses for President Lee's visit to the North. However, the National Intelligence Service later revealed that Ri Ho-nam was not staying in the Philippines at that time, leading ruling party members of the special committee to claim that former Chairman Kim's testimony is false.

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