Political parties in South Korea are engaged in a heated exchange following the conviction of Lee Hwa-young, the former Vice Governor of Gyeonggi Province, for perjury related to the so-called "salmon drinking party". The Democratic Party has condemned the judiciary's decision and pledged to prove Lee's innocence, while the People Power Party has intensified its demands for the resumption of President Lee Jae-myung's trial over North Korean remittances and a public apology from the Democrats.
On June 23, the Democratic Party, particularly its pro-Lee faction, criticized the judiciary for its guilty verdict against Lee Hwa-young, reiterating their belief in his innocence.
Representative Lee Geon-tae pointed out that some jurors had found Lee not guilty, suggesting that reasonable doubt remains regarding the charges against him. He expressed optimism that the appellate court could overturn the decision.
In an interview on YTN Radio's "Jang Seong-cheol's News Room," Lee stated, "For a not guilty verdict to be rendered, all reasonable doubts must be eliminated. Legally, that doubt still exists. I am confident that it will be addressed in the appellate court."
Representative Kang Deuk-gu expressed deep regret over the court's guilty ruling and vowed to uncover Lee's innocence.
Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly, Kang said, "Despite repeated confirmations of the circumstances surrounding the alcohol being brought in, the court turned a blind eye to the prosecution's cowardice. I express my deep regret over the guilty verdict. Many lawmakers are confident in Lee's innocence and will continue to support him until his acquittal is confirmed."
Conversely, the People Power Party has dismissed the Democratic Party's claims that Lee's case was manipulated through coerced testimony, demanding a public apology and legal accountability from the Democrats for using the allegations as a political tool.
Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk criticized the Democrats on Facebook, stating that they have abused their power in attempts to dismiss the charges against President Lee Jae-myung, even rejecting the judgment of the public jury.
Jang asserted, "In an effort to save one individual, the National Assembly has misused its power. Those lawmakers who belittled witnesses and informants during the national investigation must be held legally accountable. The Democratic Party's claim of 'substantial innocence' is a direct affront to the public's judgment."
Representative Kwak Gyu-taek called for the resumption of President Lee's trial in light of the recent verdict against Lee Hwa-young and reiterated the demand for a public apology from the Democratic Party.
On CBS Radio's "Park Seong-tae's News Show," Kwak noted that the public, as evidenced in the jury trial, also recognized Lee's perjury, stating, "Given the common sense reflected in the first trial's outcome, it is highly likely that the appellate court will uphold the guilty verdict. The Democratic Party must apologize for what has been proven false."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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