Im Se-eun: "'Leaving the Party' Son Hye-won Also Found Not Guilty Now... Kim Nam-guk Shares Sympathy"

Former Blue House Deputy Spokesperson Lim Se-eun interpreted former lawmaker Sohn Hye-won's campaign to save lawmaker Kim Nam-guk, who left the Democratic Party of Korea amid multi-billion won cryptocurrency allegations, as "perhaps a case of comrades in misfortune."

On the 16th, Lim said on BBS's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal,' "Looking back at the past, former lawmaker Sohn was reported in the media for over a month for speculation in Mokpo, similar to Kim's case. At that time, Sohn voluntarily left the party and agreed to be investigated first, but now, after several years, all charges were dismissed, and there was actually no real real estate speculation issue," he said.

Independent lawmaker Son Hye-won, who is under suspicion of real estate speculation in the Mokpo area of Jeollanam-do, is attending the second trial held at the Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

He added, "Since she experienced something similar, she probably did not know 100% about Kim's case but recalled her old memories. Seeing Kim's case continuously in the media for nearly two weeks must have reminded her of the past, so perhaps it was a case of comrades in misfortune," he said.

Although Lim said "all charges were dismissed," the Supreme Court last year ruled that former lawmaker Sohn's purchase of real estate under a borrowed name was guilty and confirmed a fine of 10 million won. However, the court acquitted her of charges related to misuse of confidential information. Sohn filed a correction request claiming that media reports about 'speculation in Mokpo's old downtown' were false but recently lost in the appellate court as well.

Lim also said, "If there is evidence or proof that Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung received money, I would be the first to call for his resignation. But since no such evidence has emerged, we are watching the situation, and the trial has not yet taken place," adding, "Regarding former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil, those mentioned in the recordings have left the party and are currently undergoing appropriate investigations." This means that the allegations against Lee, Song, and the money envelope case are still at the suspicion level, and lawmaker Kim is in a similar situation.

Lim said, "When looking at these matters, shouldn't we first wait for the investigation and fact-finding to be completed, and then hold those responsible accountable? Because if controversies keep arising and people are only held responsible when accusations surface, wouldn't that be too convenient for politically killing a person or a party?" he questioned.

Alongside him on the radio, Shin In-kyu, the leader of the People Power Party's Baroseugi, said, "They demanded political responsibility from Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min before legal confirmation, and in the past, when investigating deep-rooted evils, the Democratic Party called for the immediate resignation of people like Woo Byung-woo as soon as the state manipulation scandal broke out. But when it comes to leader Lee, no legal confirmation has been made. So, if it goes to the third trial, why is the standard different?" he countered.

Shin said, "Ignoring the people's sentiment and relying only on the party's hardcore supporters like former lawmaker Sohn to save lawmaker Kim's immoral and shameless acts and put him in the National Assembly? Let former lawmaker Sohn work hard alone. Can this work?" he questioned.