Rep. Joo Jin-woo holds a press conference at the National Assembly regarding allegations involving Kim Hyun-ji. / Photo = Rep. Joo Jin-woo’s Facebook
BUSAN, South Korea (Freedom Chosun) — South Korean lawmaker Joo Jin-woo on Tuesday alleged that presidential aide Kim Hyun-ji was involved in an illegal campaign fund case connected to Kim Yong, a former deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute.
Kim Yong is on trial for allegedly receiving 600 million won ($435,000) in illicit political funds from property developers Yoo Dong-gyu and Nam Wook during the ruling Democratic Party’s 20th presidential primary.
Joo said attorney Lee Sang-ho, who represented Kim Yong, secretly sent a copy of Kim’s arrest warrant to Kim Hyun-ji at the time of the arrest. “Who do you think she reported it to?” Joo asked, suggesting possible involvement of higher officials.
He urged investigators to determine whether Kim Hyun-ji had managed other related cases in a similar manner and whether such practices continue.
Joo compared the case to a recent probe by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok, who investigated former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s lawyer for allegedly leaking an arrest warrant. “The same standard must apply,” he said.
The lawmaker said he would seek to summon Kim Hyun-ji, attorney Seol Joo-wan, and attorney Lee Sang-ho as witnesses for the upcoming National Assembly audit, adding that “the truth must be made clear before the people.”
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