Lee Jae-myung's Alleged Impersonation of Prosecutor and Criminal Record in Publicity Materials... PD of the Case Says "Not True"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, responded to the 'impersonation of a prosecutor' criminal record by stating that Choi Cheol-ho, the KBS PD involved in the case, declared that the candidate's explanation in the campaign materials was 'not true.' PD Choi was recognized by the court for conspiring and executing the impersonation of a prosecutor during Lee's time as a lawyer and received a suspended sentence.

On the 24th, PD Choi held a press conference at a cafe in Yeouido, Seoul, and addressed Lee, saying, "The claim that the PD acted alone in impersonating a prosecutor must be corrected," and added, "He should honestly apologize even now."

In the election campaign materials, Lee included the criminal record related to the prosecutor impersonation case (a fine of 1.5 million KRW) and explained, "This occurred during the process of uncovering and reporting the preferential Parkview apartment allocation case in Bundang as a civic activist. While the candidate, who was the executive committee chairman of the special allocation case countermeasure committee, was being interviewed by a broadcasting PD, the PD asked for and was told the name of the prosecutor in charge and important details of the case. After legal disputes, it was ultimately ruled that the candidate helped impersonate the prosecutor."

PD Choi criticized Lee's repeated claims during the Gyeonggi Province governor election, in his book, and in the current presidential campaign materials that the impersonation was done by the PD alone during the interview, stating, "The truth is what is stated in the first and second trial and Supreme Court rulings." He also disclosed the first trial judgment document that recorded Lee's involvement in the impersonation.

He added, "There is important evidence in the judgment document proving that Lee's claim of non-involvement is not true," and said, "Everything mentioned in the judgment document is true. Not only me but also the cameraman and audio technician were present."

In particular, PD Choi pointed out that in the book Revolutionize Korea with Lee Jae-myung, the PD's prosecutor impersonation case is described as "being falsely accused of helping with the coverage," and in the June 2017 publication Lee Jae-myung's Crooked Arm, there is a story that a broadcasting PD was detained by the prosecution for impersonating a prosecutor, making calls to the then mayor, and recording conversations without stopping it. He claimed, "In the current campaign materials, the story changed to say that I (PD Choi) asked for the name to be disclosed, and it was given."

Regarding the situation at the time, he said, "Lee occasionally approached the camera side, put his ear to the speaker to listen to the Seongnam mayor's answers, and either jotted down additional questions for me, wrote brief notes, or quietly gave supplementary explanations," adding, "When satisfied with the answers, he circled them; when insufficient, he wrote additional notes."

On why PD Choi received a suspended sentence and Lee was fined 1.5 million KRW, he explained, "Since this case had a public nature, I ultimately received a suspended sentence, and I understand that Lee initially also received a suspended sentence. However, as he later denied it, the Supreme Court sentenced him to a fine of 1.5 million KRW."

When asked why he held the press conference now instead of raising the issue earlier if Lee's explanations were false, he said, "There are claims that I led the prosecutor impersonation. If this ends like this, I will forever be remembered as such a person," and added, "Over 20 years, many things have happened, and I have felt deeply insulted by one-sided claims. If I were not an employee of the public broadcaster KBS, I would have spoken out earlier."

He emphasized, "I raise the issue of disregard for personal dignity. It is extremely insulting," and said, "This is at least a statement made in self-defense, so the election part is not something I am involved in. Whether to file a defamation suit depends on how the candidate responds."

In response, the Democratic Party's campaign publicity team stated, "During the Gyeonggi Province governor election, Lee was tried because he stated in TV debates and other occasions that 'the PD impersonated a prosecutor, and since I was being interviewed nearby, I was falsely accused of helping,' but he was acquitted of all charges. The current presidential campaign materials were also prepared based on court rulings and are lawful expressions."

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is campaigning on the afternoon of the 22nd at Rodeo Street Plaza in Incheon. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@