Lee Jae-myung and Kim Sung-tae Pay Condolences to Each Other's Close Aides During Mothers' Funerals

Testimony of 'Gyeonggi Province Governor's Secretary General' Visiting Kim's Mother's Funeral
Bang Yong-chul, Vice Chairman of Ssangbangwool, Sent Condolences at Lee's Mother's Funeral

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] It has been reported that Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Kim Sung-tae, chairman of Ssangbangwool Group, had their close aides pay condolences when their mothers passed away in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

At a trial held on the 31st under the presiding of Judge Shin Jin-woo of the Criminal Division 11 at Suwon District Court, A, former chief secretary of Ssangbangwool who appeared as a witness in the case against former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young on charges of bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and violation of the Political Funds Act, testified, "In May 2019, the secretary to the Gyeonggi Province Governor came to offer condolences for Chairman Kim Sung-tae's mother's passing."

At that time, B, secretary to Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, was not personally acquainted with former Chairman Kim. During the trial, the prosecution asked, "For what reason did B come to offer condolences?" A replied, "I do not know the details, but I remember that Kim Sung-tae instructed B to guide him, and they talked for about 10 minutes before B accompanied him."

Former Chairman Kim Seong-tae of Ssangbangwool Group, who was caught in Thailand while on the run abroad, is returning to Korea through Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the 17th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Regarding the prosecution's question about whether former Chairman Kim or Ssangbangwool executives visited to offer condolences when Lee Jae-myung’s mother passed away in March 2020, A answered, "I do not know because I resigned at the end of January that year."

The Criminal Division 6 of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-nam) is reported to have secured testimonies from related parties stating that former Chairman Kim sent his close aide, Vice Chairman Bang Yong-chul (detained and indicted), to offer condolences at Lee’s mother’s funeral.

In a recent investigation by the prosecution, former Chairman Kim reportedly admitted to a phone call, stating, "In January 2019, at a meeting in China with North Korean officials, Vice Governor Lee switched the call to me while he was on the phone with Lee Jae-myung."