Investigation into Song Young-gil as Complainant for Remarks on Kim Gun-hee and Forgery of Private Documents
Ongoing Probes into Yoon's Mother-in-law Favoritism Allegations and Lee's Daejang-dong Scandal
The 20th presidential election is exactly 30 days away, and on the 7th, the election comprehensive situation room signboard at the Central Election Commission in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, displays 'D-30'. / Gwacheon - Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporters Seongpil Cho, Byeongdon Yoo] With about a month left until the presidential election, police investigations related to major presidential candidates have intensified.
On the 8th at 2 p.m., the Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station will conduct a complainant investigation regarding an incident in which Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was reported by the Action Alliance for the Restoration of the Rule of Law (Beopse-ryeon).
In a radio interview late last year, Representative Song said about Kim Gun-hee, wife of Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, "It is known that the real power is Kim, and isn't it said that Kim speaks informally to Candidate Yoon even in private?" He added, "If they come to power, won't we all be worried that the real power will shake things more than Choi Soon-sil (renamed Choi Seo-won)?" Beopse-ryeon reported Representative Song to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act's prohibition on defamation of candidates, and the case has been handled by the Yeongdeungpo Police Station.
In addition, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is directly investigating several cases related to Candidate Yoon. The Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Police is looking into a case where whistleblower Cho Seong-eun filed a defamation lawsuit against Candidate Yoon and People Power Party lawmaker Kim Woong regarding the 'accusation of report-for-hire' suspicion.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is also investigating allegations of forgery of private documents and use of forged private documents involving Kim Gun-hee. This is related to suspicions that Kim was involved in the crime of her mother, Choi, who is currently on trial for forging a bank balance certificate to appear as if 34.7 billion KRW was deposited when purchasing land in Dochon-dong, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province in 2013.
Similarly, there are allegations that Kim submitted false information on resumes to universities where she worked as a part-time lecturer and adjunct professor. Civic groups such as the Citizens' Action for Judicial Justice (Sasaehaeng), the National Movement Headquarters for Private School Reform and Corruption Eradication (Sahak Gaehyeok Gukbon), and the People's Livelihood Economy Research Institute have reported Kim on charges including fraud, and the Seoul Police have assigned the same team to investigate.
The Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency received a complaint related to preferential treatment allegations involving Candidate Yoon's mother-in-law, Choi, in the Gongheung District of Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, and conducted a search and seizure of Yangpyeong-gun.
Furthermore, the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency is investigating cases related to development suspicions in Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong, Seongnam-si, and is handling a case reported in 2018 involving companies paying about 16 billion KRW in advertising fees to Seongnam FC. They are also handling a case where Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate's eldest son, Lee, was reported for illegal gambling suspicions. Additionally, they are investigating allegations that Song Doo-hwan, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, provided 'pro bono defense' by not receiving a fee while pleading the appeal in 2019 for Lee's violation of the Public Official Election Act.
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