2018~2019 Minutes of Gyeonggi Provincial Council
“Not even the Ministry of Unification, but an official document on inter-Korean exchanges”
“Lee Hwa-young, you need to reveal what you can do right now”
Democrats Criticize Unreasonable Promotion
“Issues such as whether to discuss remittance to North Korea in advance”
While prosecutors brought former Ssangbangul Group chairman Kim Seong-tae to trial on charges of sending $8 million to North Korea, Minjoo Party leader Lee Jae-myung promoted inter-Korean cooperation projects without consultation with the government when he was governor of Gyeonggi Province, and even Democratic Party members at the time protested. The contents are being illuminated belatedly. As former chairman Kim stated that he sent money to North Korea for Gyeonggi-do and Lee, the prosecution is expected to focus on finding a link between the two people’s application of bribery to a third party.
According to the Seoul Newspaper coverage on the 5th, in the Gyeonggi Provincial Council regarding the 2018-2019 inter-Korean cooperation and exchange projects, ▲ the provincial government’s arbitrary promotion ▲ responsibility issues in the event of an accident ▲ criticism of the risk of the project was raised.
In a November 2018 Gyeonggi Provincial Council administrative affairs audit, Min Gyeong-sun, a member of the Democratic Party, said, “The Panmunjom Declaration of the leaders of the two Koreas on April 27, 2018 is receiving public support, but was it ratified by the National Assembly?” He pointed out, “Does it make sense to send an official letter asking if you would like to participate in inter-Korean exchange and cooperation?” Then, he scolded, saying, “If an accident occurs due to an unverified human network, who will take responsibility?”
It is pointed out that Gyeonggi-do is pushing ahead with North Korea projects in a situation where the purpose of the inter-Korean cooperation and exchange project is understood, but the relevant laws have not been revised. In this regard, at a meeting of the Special Committee on Peace Economy of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly in August 2019, Democratic Party member Shin Jeong-hyeon said, “Deputy Governor for Peace Hwa-Young Lee should reveal exactly what he can do, is possible, and can do right now, but he must not reveal what he cannot do.” he pinched.
The reason why these meeting minutes are belatedly attracting attention is that there was a political battle between CEO Lee aiming for the next presidential election against the background of Gyeonggi-do’s arbitrary promotion of North Korea projects, and the prosecution was wondering whether Ssangbang-wool started remittance to North Korea to fulfill Lee’s ‘aspiration’. It is because we are looking into the background of human connections.
At the time, as the next presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, Lee was in a situation where he needed to develop projects and visit North Korea to secure an image of peace diplomacy. The prosecution judged that there was an interest in the stock price rise of the Ssangbangwool Group, which was classified as a North Korea-themed stock.
Regarding the recent $8 million sent to North Korea during the prosecution’s investigation, former Chairman Kim made a statement to the effect of “providing the cost of the smart farm promised by Gyeonggi-do to North Korea ($5 million) and the cost of President Lee’s visit to North Korea ($3 million).” did. If Ssangbangwool sent money to the North on behalf of Gyeonggi-do and Lee, there is a possibility that a third-party bribery charge would be applied, not a violation of the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act.
In the application of bribery to a third party, the issue is whether or not an improper solicitation was made. The legislative purpose of the legislation is that if it is recognized that there has been an improper solicitation, the public official who has the money or valuables provided to a third party be punished even if the person themselves do not receive it. Attorney Kim Ki-yoon said, “The issue will be whether CEO Lee consulted former Chairman Kim’s remittance to North Korea in advance, whether there was a division of roles, or at least whether he was aware of the general facts.” We also need to find out what price he promised the former chairman.” Regarding this, CEO Lee’s side is in the position that it is a “novel of the prosecution.”
Reporter Kwak Jin-woong
