Kim Sung-tae: "Delivered 8 Million Dollars to North Korea for Smart Farm and Lee Jae-myung's North Korea Visit"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] It has been confirmed that former Ssangbangwool Group Chairman Kim Sung-tae stated during the prosecution investigation that "a total of 8 million dollars was delivered to North Korea, and this was for Gyeonggi Province's North Korean smart farm support project and for the visit to North Korea by Lee Jae-myung, then governor of Gyeonggi Province and current leader of the Democratic Party."

The Criminal Division 6 of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-nam) has been investigating the background after determining that former Chairman Kim delivered a total of 5 million dollars to North Korea in two installments in January and November 2019. After being detained, Kim had claimed for some time that it was a "payment for the North-South economic cooperation business rights," but when the prosecution presented related materials, he reportedly revealed additional remittance details and reasons.

Former chairman Kim Seong-tae, the real owner of Ssangbangwool Group, who was arrested in Thailand during his life on the run abroad, is being escorted through Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 17th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

First, he admitted during the investigation that he delivered an additional 3 million dollars in April 2019. He reportedly testified that the 5 million dollars given in January and April were "the costs for Gyeonggi Province's North Korean smart farm support project," and the 3 million dollars given in November were "expenses for the then governor Lee's visit to North Korea."

Gyeonggi Province's North Korean smart farm support was promoted in 2018. Lee Hwa-young, former Deputy Governor for Peace of Gyeonggi Province (indicted and detained), announced six exchange cooperation projects agreed with North Korea in October 2018, one of which designated a farm in Hwanghae Province as a smart farm (agroforestry complex pilot farm) with Gyeonggi Province participating in the improvement project.

Regarding this, the North Korean side reportedly requested Ssangbangwool to cover the project costs, saying, "Gyeonggi Province had promised to support the improvement of North Korea's underdeveloped farms into agroforestry complex farms, so-called smart farms, but support has not yet been provided," and "Please support 5 billion won on behalf of Gyeonggi Province." It is known that former Chairman Kim eventually complied with this request.

Additionally, former Deputy Governor Lee announced the agreement on exchange cooperation projects with North Korea in 2018 and also revealed the "possibility of the governor's visit to North Korea within the year." In fact, in May 2019, Gyeonggi Province sent an official letter to the North Korean Committee for Asia-Pacific Peace requesting an invitation for the visit.

Former Chairman Kim reportedly also testified that he heard that "Deputy Governor Lee Hwa-young reported everything to the governor" regarding transactions with North Korea. Furthermore, he reversed his previous stance of "never having spoken on the phone with Lee Jae-myung."

In January 2019, at a meeting in China with North Korean officials, he admitted to having spoken with Lee Jae-myung, saying, "Deputy Governor Lee Hwa-young spoke on the phone with the governor and then handed the phone to me."