Democratic Party Releases Prosecution Recording Alleging 'Coerced Confession' on Lee Jae-myung

The Democratic Party has launched an offensive against the prosecution by releasing a recorded phone call that appears to show prosecutors coercing a confession from a key suspect in the 'SBBokkkumi North Korea Remittance' case, naming Lee Jae-myung as the main culprit. The party that released the recording and the prosecution are presenting opposing views.

The recording is of a conversation held on June 19, 2023, between Seo Min-seok, the lawyer for former Gyeonggi Province Peace Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young (who was sentenced to 7 years and 8 months in prison for the 'SBBokkkumi North Korea Remittance' case), and investigating prosecutor Park Sang-yong. In the call, Prosecutor Park said, "We can only proceed if there is a confession that completely names Lee Jae-myung as the main culprit and this person (Lee Hwa-young) as an accomplice." These remarks were made in connection with potential benefits for the former vice governor, such as bail or securing whistleblower status. This is the key part the Democratic Party has identified as evidence of 'statement inducement'.

The Democratic Party has labeled the recording as 'evidence of a fabricated indictment aimed at making Lee Jae-myung the main culprit.' Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Yong-gi stated, "The demand for a 'confession that names Lee Jae-myung as the main culprit and Lee Hwa-young as an accomplice' raises suspicion that they were trying to force a statement based on a predetermined conclusion."

Members of the Democratic Party's special committee for a parliamentary inquiry into fabricated indictments are focusing on the SBBokkkumi North Korea Remittance case among the seven matters under investigation and have summoned Prosecutor Park Sang-yong as a witness. On the 9th of next month, they plan to conduct an on-site inspection of Room 1313 at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, which was Prosecutor Park's office at the time and is alleged to be the location where the 'liquor party for salmon' incident occurred and where coercion took place.

Prosecutor Park Sang-yong has squarely refuted the Democratic Party's claims. Prosecutor Park argued, "Lawyer Seo first requested leniency based on the former vice governor's confession," and asserted, "The recording has been edited." The prosecution's investigation team at the time of the North Korea remittance case also stated, "We did not demand any false testimony from former Vice Governor Lee or Lawyer Seo."