Lee Hwa-young, the former vice governor of Gyeonggi-do, who is suspected of violating the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act related to payments to North Korea, will appear in the prosecution on the morning of the 22nd and has a second investigation.
Attorney Hyeon Geun-taek, a lawyer for Lee Hwa-young, said in a statement on the 20th, “The prosecution notified me to appear at 10:00 on the 22nd.”
“Thank you for considering the trial schedule and preparation,” he said. “In this investigation, investigations should not be carried out that relate to cases that are currently pending (bribery). Also, I hope it will happen in a quiet atmosphere without loud voices coming and going.”
Hyun’s lawyer said on the 18th, “I sent an opinion to adjust the attendance date to the prosecution, saying, ‘Summon me on the morning of the 22nd, next Wednesday.'”
Previously, on the 15th, the 6th Criminal Division of the Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office (chief prosecutor Kim Young-nam) summoned former vice governor Lee for questioning. From the afternoon, Ahn Bu-soo, head of the Asia-Pacific Peace Exchange Association, Kim Seong-tae, former chairman of the Ssangbangbang Group, and Bang Yong-chul, vice chairman, were called in turn for a four-way inquiry.
Former Chairman Kim, Vice Chairman Bang, and Chairman Ahn are said to have made statements to the effect that Gyeonggi-do requested payment first, saying, “Gyeonggi-do was also aware that the money transferred to North Korea.”
On the other hand, former deputy governor Lee is said to have reiterated his previous position that “Ssangbangwool sent money to North Korea for his own business and has nothing to do with Gyeonggi-do.”
The prosecution received a request from former vice governor Lee that if former Chairman Kim did not pay the cost of smart farms to North Korea, “the business of North Korea Gyeonggi-do would be difficult,” he paid 500 million dollars, including 2 one million dollars in January 2019 and 3 million dollars in April It is believed that he has transferred over 10,000 dollars to the North. In addition, Lee Jae-myung, the head of the Democratic Party, is deemed to have sent 3 million dollars for a visit to North Korea in November and December of the same year.
Prosecutors believe former Chairman Kim and others took $8 million without reporting it to the authorities, because they made a payment to interfere in future projects in North Korea and interest projects to be promoted by Gyeonggi-do. However, former deputy governor Lee’s side strongly denies the suspected payment to North Korea.
