Song Eonsoek: "Is the National Investigation State Manipulation?... NIS Director Lee Jongseok Must Resign"

Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, strongly criticized the parliamentary investigation into the "Alleged Political Prosecution and Fabricated Indictment by the Yoon Suk Yeol Administration," which deals with suspicions surrounding Ssangbangwool’s remittance to North Korea, calling it a case of "state manipulation." He also demanded the resignation of National Intelligence Service Director Lee Jong-seok before any legal accountability, accusing him of perjury during the parliamentary investigation.

On the afternoon of the 15th, Song held a press conference at the National Assembly and made these assertions.

Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at a press conference held at the National Assembly on the 15th.

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Regarding the statement of fact submitted by Bae Sang-yoon, chairman of KH, to the parliamentary investigation, Song pointed out, "Chairman Bae is an Interpol red notice fugitive who has been on the run overseas for four years," and questioned, "I am curious as to how this statement of fact was obtained." He further asked, "Did Chairman Bae himself actually author this statement?" and questioned the Democratic Party, "Is it not a problem for an Interpol red notice fugitive to have been living in luxury abroad for four years, and can the claims made by such a person be considered credible?"

Song also stated, "Yesterday, at the parliamentary investigation, Bang Yong-chul, former vice chairman of Ssangbangwool, once again confirmed his testimony that in July 2019, he handed over 700,000 dollars to North Korean official Ri Ho-nam in the Philippines as compensation for then-Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung's visit to North Korea." He went on to argue, "Director Lee of the National Intelligence Service, who claimed that Ri Ho-nam was not in the Philippines at that time, should resign before facing (perjury) legal responsibility." Song also asserted that the remittance to North Korea constitutes "a clear violation of international law."

Regarding President Lee's sharing and subsequent deletion of a video featuring the Brazilian president on social media, Song criticized, "From the perspective of the United States, this could be seen as an anti-American declaration, suggesting that Korea is intervening not only in the Middle East but also in Latin America, making it an unprecedented diplomatic disaster." He added, "To prevent recurrence, posts on sensitive diplomatic issues should be reviewed by experts from the National Security Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before being published on social media."

Meanwhile, Song rejected calls from within the party to forgo fielding a candidate in the by-election for Busan Buk-gap, where former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon has officially announced his candidacy. He stated, "As the second largest party in the National Assembly and the leading opposition party, we must fulfill our responsibilities as a public party." Regarding speculation that a new floor leader could be elected ahead of schedule before his term ends in June, Song said no decision has been made and added, "I am not attached to my position and will work to gather the collective will of the lawmakers."

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