Former Ssangbangwool Chairman Kim Sung-tae Resummoned by Prosecutors Over Alleged Witness Inducement in North Korea Remittance Case

Investigation of Suspects in the "Salmon and Drinking Party" Allegation

Former Ssangbangwool Chairman Kim Sungtae is appearing on the 8th at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Human Rights Violation Inspection Task Force (TF) in Seocho-gu, Seoul, to be investigated in connection with the 'Salmon and Drinking Party Coercion Allegation' raised during the investigation of the 'Ssangbangwool North Korea Remittance Case'.

The prosecution, which is investigating allegations of witness inducement during the illegal North Korea remittance probe involving Ssangbangwool Group, has summoned former Ssangbangwool Chairman Kim Sung-tae for further questioning.

The Human Rights Violation Task Force (TF) of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office is interrogating Kim on January 20 as a suspect. This is the second time the TF has summoned Kim this month, following the previous session on the 8th.

The TF is investigating allegations that, during the investigation into the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case by the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office in May 2023, a "salmon and drinking party" was held in the interrogation room to induce Lee Hwa-young, former Vice Governor for Peace of Gyeonggi Province, to change his testimony.

The TF is also probing suspicions that Ssangbangwool offered financial benefits to An Bu-su, President of the Asia-Pacific Peace Exchange Association and a key witness in the North Korea remittance trial, in an attempt to influence his testimony.

Previously, on January 6 and 7, the TF summoned and questioned Bang Yong-cheol, former Vice Chairman of Ssangbangwool Group, and a former director of the group surnamed Park. The TF requested arrest warrants for President An, former Vice Chairman Bang, and former Director Park on charges of obstruction of justice by fraudulent means, embezzlement, and breach of trust, but failed to secure their custody.

The TF concluded that Ssangbangwool provided various conveniences to President An and his family in exchange for changing his testimony. The company allegedly paid An's legal fees, provided a residential officetel for his child, and offered preferential employment opportunities. However, the request for an arrest warrant was dismissed.