A lawyer campaigning to become mayor of Cheongju, South Korea, has filed a complaint against a prosecutor involved in a high-profile political funding case, alleging defamation and the fabrication of evidence. Seo Min-seok, a candidate for the Democratic Party in the June 3 election, announced on February 24th that he would be pursuing legal action against Park Sang-yong, the prosecutor who led the investigation into alleged illicit funds transferred to North Korea by the Ssangbangwool Group.
Seo claims Park falsely stated in a recent YouTube broadcast that Seo had advised his client, former Gyeonggi Province Peace and Cooperation Officer Lee Hwa-young, to portray President Lee Jae-myung as the primary actor in the alleged scheme, while characterizing Lee Hwa-young as a secondary participant. Seo asserts this claim is untrue and has damaged his reputation. “This is a false fact,” Seo stated during a press conference held at the Cheongju City Hall press room, according to Yonhap News Agency. “This false fact has tarnished my honor.”
The complaint comes as Seo faces scrutiny over his previous role as Lee Hwa-young’s legal counsel. He was previously accused of attempting to elicit testimony unfavorable to President Lee Jae-myung during the investigation. Seo has consistently denied these allegations. He presented a handwritten letter from Lee Hwa-young at the press conference, which reportedly details alleged pressure tactics employed by prosecutors during the investigation, including threats of prosecution. The letter, according to reports from Chungcheong Times, claims Seo defended Lee Hwa-young “at the cost of his own safety.”
Seo alleges that Park Sang-yong “led the fabricated investigation and inducement,” alongside Lee Hwa-young’s wife, and intends to file the complaint on February 26th with the National Investigation Headquarters of the Korean National Police Agency. He framed the legal action as an attempt to resolve “the wasteful controversy and misunderstandings” surrounding the case, stating that he was being forced to address the allegations at the expense of focusing on his mayoral campaign platform. “I have been branded as a lawyer swayed by the prosecution in this precious time when I lack the time to present a vision for Cheongju City,” Seo said, as reported by Newsis.
The Ssangbangwool case has been a source of significant political tension in South Korea. Lee Jae-myung, the current president, was a key figure in the investigation, and the allegations against him have been fiercely contested by his supporters. The timing of Seo’s complaint, during a mayoral campaign, adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal and political battles surrounding the case. OmyNews reported that both Lee Hwa-young and Seo Min-seok are co-plaintiffs in the complaint, alleging abuse of power, leaking official secrets, and defamation against Park Sang-yong.
