'Kim Yong Trial Perjury Coaching Charges' Two Former Lee Jae-myung Presidential Campaign Members Under Warrant Review

On the 15th, individuals associated with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who are accused of demanding 'false testimony' from a key witness in the trial of former Democratic Research Institute Deputy Director Kim Yong, charged with illegal political funds, appeared for a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review).

'Kim Yong Perjury Coaching Trial' Two Former Lee Jae-myung Presidential Campaign Officials Undergoing Warrant Hearing.
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

At 10 a.m. on the same day, Lee Min-soo, the warrant judge at the Seoul Central District Court, held a warrant review hearing for Park (45) and Seo (44), who served as the situation room chiefs of Lee's election campaign committee and are accused of instructing false testimony, and is currently deliberating the necessity of their detention.

Arriving at the court around 9:51 a.m., Park and Seo headed to the courtroom without answering questions such as 'Do you admit to instructing false testimony?' and 'Was there anyone who ordered you to instruct false testimony?'

Park and Seo are accused of instructing false testimony by asking Lee (former director of the Gyeonggi-do Market Promotion Agency) to provide a 'false alibi' during the trial last April concerning former Deputy Director Kim's violations of the Political Funds Act.

Park was also charged with submitting fabricated evidence to the court in May of the same year, along with former Director Lee and former Deputy Director Kim's lawyers, related to a schedule document allegedly fabricated by former Director Lee on the day Kim received illicit funds (use of forged evidence).

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kang Baek-shin) stated on the 9th, "We were appalled that such an organized and planned act to deceive the court occurred in an important case. This is the worst case of instructing false testimony," and requested arrest warrants for them.

The decision on whether to detain them is expected to be made as early as late afternoon on the same day.