'Lim Seonggeun Perjury' Trial: Actor Park Sungwoong to Testify in March

Key Witness in Clarifying the Truth Behind the "Lee Jongho and Lim Seonggeun Dinner"
Allegations of Concealing Mobile Phone Password Also at Issue

The special prosecutor's team led by Lee Myunghyun, investigating the death in the line of duty of a Marine, will call actor Park Sungwoong to the stand as a key witness to prove the perjury charges against former Marine 1st Division Commander Lim Sungkeun.

The 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court accepted the special prosecutor's request to summon Park as a witness during the second pretrial hearing for Lim's perjury case, held on January 28. Although this hearing was primarily a procedural step to organize the future plan for presenting evidence, Lim attended the proceedings in person to observe the trial.

Park's testimony is expected to be a crucial clue in clarifying the connection between Lim and Lee Jongho, former CEO of Black Pearl Invest, who is at the center of lobbying allegations. During a previous special prosecutor's investigation, Park stated, "In 2022, I had a meal with former Division Commander Lim and former CEO Lee at a location in Gangnam, Seoul." This directly contradicts Lim's longstanding claim that he had never met Lee and thus could not have met Park, which he has used to deny all lobbying allegations.

During a National Assembly audit in October 2025, when questioned about the meal, Lim strongly denied the allegations, saying, "I've never met Lee Jongho, so how could I have met that actor (Park Sungwoong)?" Based on Park's statement, the special prosecutor determined that Lim's testimony before the National Assembly constituted perjury and brought him to trial.

Lim also faces charges of giving false testimony regarding his mobile phone password. At a National Assembly hearing in July 2024, when asked for his password, he replied, "I don't remember." However, just before a warrant review, he claimed, "I miraculously remembered the number," and submitted it to the special prosecutor, sparking controversy. The special prosecutor suspects this was a deliberate attempt to evade investigation by concealing information.

The court concluded the preparatory procedures on this day and will begin full witness examinations starting in March. The examination of Park is scheduled for March 25 at 10 a.m. Under the Criminal Procedure Act, if a summoned witness fails to appear without a valid reason, the court may issue a warrant for their arrest or impose a fine.