Kim Sung-tae Denies Salmon and Alcohol Party Allegations: "Never Met Lee, Never Received Any Favors"

Former Ssangbangwool Chairman Sung-tae Kim stated on the 28th at the National Assembly, regarding suspicions of a salmon and alcohol party, "Let me be clear: I did not drink alcohol at all on May 17."

On this day, Kim attended the comprehensive hearing on the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case as a witness, organized by the Special Committee for the National Investigation into Allegations of Fabricated Prosecution by the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration's Political Prosecutors. He remarked, "I'm almost 60 years old now, so please stop bringing up what I eat or drink."

Former Ssangbangwool Chairman Sungtae Kim is responding to lawmaker questions at the comprehensive hearing held during the 11th plenary session of the National Assembly’s Special Committee on the Investigation of Allegations of Political Prosecution Manipulation under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration on the 28th.

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During the comprehensive hearing, which continued from morning into the afternoon, Kim denied all questions from lawmakers of both parties regarding the salmon and alcohol party. In questioning with Yang Bu-nam, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, he stressed, "I can't say I drank when I didn't. I did not drink alcohol." In questioning with Shin Dong-wook, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, he again emphasized, "That is not true."

Park, who appeared as a witness regarding the salmon and alcohol party allegations, said, "Lee Hwa-young changed the date of the salmon and soju party countless times, first saying it was in July, then June, then May," and added, "If I had not bought soju with a corporate card to drink that day, I don't know what judgment or outcome this case would have had. I feel heartbroken because I think this incident happened due to my own immoral actions."

Kim also stated that he felt significant psychological pressure as his family and colleagues were detained due to the prosecution's aggressive investigation. He engaged in disputes with Prosecutor Lee Yun-hwan, who led the investigation against him, over related issues. Kim further asserted that he had no accomplice relationship with President Lee Jaemyung, responding in questioning with Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Geon-tae, "I've never even seen him (President Lee), nor have I ever received any favors from him."

Kim also addressed suspicions that the prosecution had covered up allegations of Ssangbangwool stock price manipulation in exchange for his cooperation during the investigation into remittances to North Korea, stating, "I have never been involved in stock price manipulation." During questioning with Lee Sang-hwi, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, Kim agreed with Lee's statement that "there was no specific benefit," and commented, "That part is frustrating."

The Democratic Party of Korea plans to hold another plenary session of the special committee on the 30th to adopt a related report on the findings. The party also intends to file complaints regarding perjury and witnesses who failed to appear. Lawmaker Park Seong-jun of the Democratic Party said, "(This special investigation) confirmed that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration orchestrated a scheme to remove President Lee as a political opponent." In contrast, lawmaker Song Seok-jun of the People Power Party criticized, "It is illegal and unconstitutional."

Meanwhile, during the hearing, tensions arose between the parties over demands to review CCTV footage to verify whether Kim had entered Special Committee Chairwoman Seo Young-kyo's office before the meeting began. Kim stated, "This is the first time I have met Chairwoman Seo." Chairwoman Seo also clarified, "I have never met former Chairman Kim."

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