Former Ssangbangul Chair Kim Sung-tae publicly protests probe tactics, claiming they 'ruined my family'

Kim Sung-tae, former chairman of Ssangbangul Group, publicly criticized the prosecutors who investigated him, claiming they had ruined his family.

Responding to a question from lawmaker Cha regarding whether the prosecutor had asked about the private life of his former brother-in-law, Kim Tae-heon, during the investigation, the prosecutor explained that given reports of an 'imperial escape' for Kim and his entourage during their escape to Thailand, and allegations involving entertainment venues, he had no choice as a prosecutor but to ask questions of the extradited suspect. Kim Tae-heon was extradited in January 2023 and was divorced from Kim Sung-tae's sister in 2022. The prosecutor added that the question arose during the corporate investigation aspect and moved on to the next issue due to Kim Tae-heon's objection.

However, Kim Sung-tae immediately protested, stating that Prosecutor Lee Yoon-hwan was committing perfect perjury. He claimed that when he asked "Why are you involving family?" during an additional indictment, the prosecutor had clearly asked, "Do you know Kim Tae-heon had an affair?" and asserted this destroyed a household. Kim Sung-tae pointed out that mentioning his sister's husband's affair to an older brother could harm the family's well-being. The prosecutor reiterated that he had to ask such questions to verify the 'imperial escape' allegations.

The prosecutor emphasized that his investigation was conducted by the book, pertaining to violations of the Capital Markets Act regarding embezzlement and breach of trust after a loan shark acquired Ssangbangul. He added that he had nothing to say if Kim Sung-tae considered it excessive. Kim Sung-tae labeled the prosecution's pressure tactics involving private life as 'devilish investigation methods,' arguing that while his own brother, sister's husband, cousin, and colleagues were being arrested, focusing on family matters instead of the investigation itself was a betrayal of basic decency.

Earlier, on the 14th, Kim Tae-heon, Kim Sung-tae's former brother-in-law who testified at a hearing, stated that he had been coerced and pressured by the prosecution, naming specific prosecutors and pleading for the reason behind the pressure tactics to be investigated. Bang Yong-chul, former vice chairman of Ssangbangul Group, also testified about strong pressure and an atmosphere of coaxing cooperation from the prosecution team.

The hearing also saw a clash between the ruling and opposition parties over allegations of coercion and contact involving Kim Sung-tae. People Power Party lawmakers questioned whether Kim Sung-tae had entered Committee Chairman Seo Young-kyo's office, raising suspicions of prior contact. Seo Young-kyo countered that she couldn't hear due to a meeting, and Kim Sung-tae also stated he saw her for the first time. The People Power Party demanded CCTV footage, delaying the hearing. Lawmaker Park Sun-won raised suspicions that People Power Party lawmakers had attempted to contact Kim Sung-tae separately, identifying a high-end bar in Gangnam as a "Ssangbangul hangout." Kim Sung-tae replied that he believed he had been drinking soju with acquaintances at the location the previous evening.