Song Cheol-ho: "Prosecution's indictment is a forced fit of a third-rate novel plot"

Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho is attending the first formal trial of the Blue House's alleged interference and special investigation in the Ulsan mayoral election case at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 10th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Song Cheol-ho, Mayor of Ulsan, who has been indicted on charges of Blue House ordered investigation and election interference, strongly criticized the prosecution's indictment, calling it "like a third-rate novel."

Mayor Song made these remarks as he attended his first trial on the afternoon of the 10th at 1:45 PM, held at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21-3 (Presiding Judge Jang Yong-beom). He said, "This is truly an unreasonable indictment," and added, "I believe the indictment is like a third-rate political novel forcibly fabricated by a small group of political prosecutors." When asked if he denies the charges, he replied, "Yes."

Hwang Un-ha, a member of the Democratic Party and former Chief of Ulsan Police Department during the election, told reporters, "The prosecution is fabricating crimes that do not exist and covering up crimes that do," and said, "The person who should stand in court is not me but the prosecution." Hwang added, "The prosecution, as a state agency, has committed the crime of fabricating nonexistent cases and covering up ongoing cases," and expressed regret and disbelief over having to attend unnecessary trials amid his busy legislative duties due to case fabrication and falsification."

This is the first time since the indictment in January last year that the defendants, including Mayor Song and Representative Hwang, have appeared in court. Until now, only six preparatory hearings without the defendants' attendance were held due to issues related to viewing and copying investigation records. The core of this case is that ahead of the 2018 local elections, the Blue House committed various illegal and unlawful acts, including ordering the police to conduct investigations to help Mayor Song's election. There are 15 indicted individuals, including Mayor Song, Representative Hwang, and former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Han Byung-do.