Presidential Office on Deutsche Motors Ruling: "It Has Become Clear That the Democratic Party's Claims Are Not True"

Spokesperson's Office "Response to Fake News Related to the President and Family According to the Law"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 10th, as the first trial verdict in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case was announced, the Presidential Office emphasized that the Democratic Party of Korea's allegation that First Lady Kim Geon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, was involved is "clearly proven to be untrue."

The Presidential Office spokesperson's office stated in a notice to the press corps in the afternoon, "The first trial court acquitted Mr. A, who conducted discretionary trading through an account entrusted by the President's spouse, on the grounds that 'the statute of limitations has already expired.' It is clearly proven that the Democratic Party's claim that the statute of limitations remains is untrue."

They continued, "The court defined this case as a 'failed stock manipulation' and also acquitted Mr. B, who traded on a large scale, stating that regardless of whether he knew about the stock manipulation, he was merely a major investor and not an accomplice. The Democratic Party's claim that the President's spouse was involved as a mastermind in the stock manipulation has also been refuted," they added.

The spokesperson's office also pointed out, "As the investigation into Cho Kuk proceeded, Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Kang-wook refiled a complaint in April 2020 regarding a case that had already been closed, and since then, the Democratic Party has maliciously spread the 'stock manipulation' frame more than 270 times over nearly three years through comments, Supreme Council speeches, and campaigns. This is why it is being criticized as stalking."

They also hinted at a strong response to false information based on arbitrary interpretations of the court ruling. Regarding this, the spokesperson's office mentioned, "Since the first trial verdict has been delivered, unfounded unilateral claims should be refrained from, and related reports should faithfully reflect the contents of the first trial ruling."

In particular, they rebutted, "Lawmaker Choi and others also filed complaints regarding the President's mother-in-law's nursing care benefits case as a 'political offensive,' but even after the acquittal was confirmed, they did not express even minimal regret. Through today's court ruling, it has been clearly revealed that the Democratic Party has made false claims, yet they are again arbitrarily interpreting and publicizing the verdict. This is an act that forgets the basics of the rule of law."

Furthermore, they warned, "We will continue to respond consistently according to law and principles to baseless fake news about the President and his family."