Kim Woong: "Allegations of Report Solicitation, Linking to Prosecution Is the Ruling Party's Wish"

Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party, is attending the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Environment and the Korea Meteorological Administration held by the Environment and Labor Committee at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 20th, responding to questions from the press. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Amid the release of the phone call transcript between whistleblower Jo Seong-eun and Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party, regarding the allegation of report manipulation, Kim refuted by saying, "Connecting this to the prosecution seems to be just the Democratic Party of Korea's wishful thinking."

On the 20th, before the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee's audit, Kim told reporters, "If the materials came from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, would I say, 'If it goes to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, I will make sure to inform them in advance'?"

Earlier that day, Jo appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and speculated that the 'we' in Kim's statement, "We will draft the complaint and send it first," referred to the prosecution. He said, "Since it was conveyed to the party that if they just submit this much, the prosecution would immediately investigate, I think 'we' can sufficiently be understood as referring to the investigative agency (the prosecution)."

However, Kim responded, "I have never said that 'the prosecution side drafts the initial version,' and as far as I know, there is nothing like that in the released transcript."

Regarding the multiple mentions of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl during the call, Kim said, "It was understood as a context where I hoped to block such issues from arising within the prosecution, so it would be better not to release it."

He also emphasized that, since he has not seen the full transcript, it is difficult to grasp the overall context.