[Kim Jong-seok's Why] “Lee Hwa-young is angry at President Lee.” Why?

I will sit down and report on this now.

Kim Jong-seok's Why, today, it is undoubtedly this.

"Angry at President Lee Jae-myung." Who is saying that?

Former Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young.

He is a key figure in the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance scandal.

Former Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young, who has been serving a heavy sentence for five years, has publicly come forward demanding 'parole,' claiming that he has served half of his term.

In the stalled trial of President Lee Jae-myung, former Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young, who holds the key to proving charges regarding remittances to North Korea, has essentially spoken without hesitation, saying he is "angry" at the President, "disappointed," and "cannot wait any longer."

In fact, Attorney Kim Kwang-min, representing former Vice Governor Lee, stated that as you can see, he has already conveyed demands to the President's side through various channels on several occasions, but they were not accepted.

Not long ago, he also pointed out that if the reason for former Vice Governor Lee's imprisonment is the truth about the remittances to North Korea, how is he supposed to defend himself?

He argued that while two of the President's closest aides, former Chief of Staff Jung Jin-sang and Vice President Kim Yong, have both been released, why is former Vice Governor Lee the only one still serving a prison sentence?

[Kim Kwang-min / Attorney (June 2024)]

Kim Sung-tae is a person who has already been investigated and punished for cases such as stock manipulation even before this incident. How can a trial conducted under the premise that such a person would not act this way simply because he is the CEO of a solid mid-sized company be considered just and Can this be called a just trial? Based on this premise, Lee Hwa-young was sentenced to nearly 10 years. It is absolutely unacceptable, unacceptable, and I cannot accept this court itself.

Then, when asked, "Are there any measures being considered in case parole is not granted?" he avoided giving a direct answer, stating, "I will do it when the time comes."

His statement that he will do it when the time comes is quite significant.

As you may recall, during the prosecution's investigation in 2023, former Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young had previously testified to the effect that he "asked Ssangbangwool to facilitate then-Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung's visit to North Korea and reported this to the Governor," but he later retracted this statement through a handwritten written statement.

In response to former Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young's request for parole, the opposition sarcastically remarked, "Can a president who is being threatened by a criminal properly perform his duties?"

"A serious criminal is pressuring the incumbent president, who is a suspect, from prison as if he were a debt collector."

Meanwhile, the ruling party has raised suspicions regarding the "salmon drinking party" coercion and [called] the Special Committee for State Affairs Investigation. We have been providing all-out protection, even to the extent of holding a hearing.

[Shin Dong-wook / People Power Party Member (Last April)]
If a person who is currently in prison following a final ruling from the Supreme Court is being treated this way, then what are those judges?

[Lee Hwa-young / Former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace (Last April)]

Is that ruling the word of God?

[Shin Dong-wook / People Power Party Member (Last April)]

Do you think a pardon will happen now? I always tell you, if a pardon is granted, President Lee Jae-myung is admitting to being an accomplice.

[Lee Hwa-young / Former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace (Last April)]

Don't make such divisive and vile remarks. Who wants a pardon?

[Seo Young-kyo / Democratic Party Member (Last June)]

Regarding the bringing in of alcohol, the jury was evenly split 4 to 3. Nevertheless, the trial narrowly claimed that no alcohol was brought in, which means the trial was flawed.

[Lee Kun-tae / [Democratic Party of Korea Lawmaker (Last June)]

The result is guilty, but in substance, it is innocent.

Prosecutor Park Sang-yong, who investigated the illegal remittances to North Korea case, argues to me regarding former Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young's request for parole as follows:

He claims that if the Daejang-dong allegations are a dormant volcano, then the illegal remittances to North Korea case and the imprisonment of former Vice Governor Lee are an active volcano.

[Park Sang-yong / Prosecutor (NewsA CITY LIVE Coverage)]

With the special counsel investigation and other matters constantly being delayed, it appears that Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young's side can no longer endure the situation and has finally issued an ultimatum, presenting their demands. From Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young's standpoint, he believes that "if I say just one word, I could effectively—how should I put it—turn the administration ...