The Democratic Party launches a task force (TF) for investigating the truth behind the manipulated prosecution by the political prosecution.

Introduction – Power and Justice, Prelude to Conflict

On June 27, 2025, the Democratic Party officially launched the 'Task Force (TF) for the Investigation of Political Prosecutorial Manipulation and Indictment' at the National Assembly communication office. This organization was created to primarily investigate the possibility that the investigation into the North Korean remittance case involving President Lee Jae-myung was conducted under the planning and manipulation of the political prosecution. The immediate trigger for the TF's establishment was the testimony of Bae Sang-yoon, chairman of KH Group, in an interview with the media, claiming that 'President Lee Jae-myung and Gyeonggi Province are completely unrelated to the remittance by Ssangbangwool.' Additionally, the recording released by the civic media outlet 'New Investigation' of lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong raises the possibility that this case goes beyond a simple investigation issue and indicates a political maneuver where power and judicial justice clash. The essence of this incident, in which politics, prosecution, media, and truth are fiercely intertwined, amplifies distrust that the principle of equality before the law can collapse, leading to the misuse of law and procedures for political gain. This article aims to comprehensively illuminate the process and purpose of the TF's establishment, the core issues of the North Korean remittance case, the circumstantial evidence involving lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong, and the necessity for political prosecutorial reform.

Main Point 1 – The Structure of the North Korean Remittance Incident and the Direction of the Prosecutor's Investigation

The Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance incident originally began with allegations that the Ssangbangwool Group, which was promoting business cooperation with North Korea, transferred funds to the North at the direction of then-Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung. The prosecution initiated an investigation based on testimonies from former Ssangbangwool Chairman Kim Sung-tae, and chose a direction that implicated President Lee Jae-myung as a suspect. However, the essence of the case gradually unfolded in a different direction. Bae Sang-yoon, Chairman of KH Group, stated in an exclusive interview with SBS on June 24, 2025, that "the remittance to North Korea was unrelated to Lee Jae-myung, then governor, or Gyeonggi Province, and was a decision made for unofficial internal benefits within the company." This statement became a significant turning point that undermined the existing logical foundations of the prosecution. Since last year, criticism has been consistently raised from some civic society groups and the Democratic Party, claiming that the investigation into Ssangbangwool is an effort to "take down Lee Jae-myung." In particular, the credibility of Chairman Kim Sung-tae's testimony has been questioned, and continuous evidence has emerged indicating that the prosecution may have resorted to coercion or pressure, leading to the case expanding into an issue of the abuse of prosecutorial power. Within this structure, concerns have been raised that the prosecution's investigation may have been distorted for political purposes rather than to uncover objective facts. This perception undermines public trust in the judiciary and threatens the principle of presumption of innocence guaranteed by the constitution.

Main Point 2 - The Launch of the TF and Its Significance

The Democratic Party of Korea has formed a truth-finding task force (TF) under this awareness of the issues. The chair of the TF is Representative Han Jun-ho, a member of the party's highest committee, and it is composed mainly of members of the National Assembly's Judiciary Committee. The TF announced that it plans to closely investigate the necessity for a reinvestigation of the North Korean remittance incident and the possibility of coercion and manipulation during the investigation process from the outset. The goals of the TF's activities are clear. First, it will re-examine the entirety of the case and identify concrete evidence and those responsible if there are signs of manipulation. Second, it intends to clarify both political and administrative responsibilities for those involved in the planning of such investigations within the prosecution. Third, it aims to establish institutional improvements to strengthen the independence and transparency of investigative and prosecutorial powers. The Democratic Party seeks to use this TF activity not merely as a defense at the level of the regime but as a starting point to address the structural issues of a political prosecution. Additionally, Floor Leader and Acting Party Leader Kim Byeong-ki emphasized the necessity of reform by stating, "If we cannot check the unchecked power of the prosecution, any power can oppress the people."

Main Point 3 – Circumstantial Evidence of Congressman Kwon Seong-dong's Involvement and Allegations of Political Manipulation

The report released by the citizen media 'New Investigation' on June 25, 2025, has clarified the realities of the political prosecution controversy. According to the report, Representative Kwon Seong-dong of the People Power Party is alleged to have attempted to persuade President Lee Jae-myung to make false statements detrimental to him, on the condition of the return of Bae Sang-yoon, chairman of KH Group, who was fleeing overseas, on July 8, 2024. In this process, recordings have been secured in which Representative Kwon offered 4 billion won in financial transactions to Jo, a close aide of Bae. During the call, Kwon stated, "If you cooperate with the investigation, we should help you too," which is interpreted as implying a prearranged testimony trade with the prosecution. Furthermore, his attitude of emphasizing secrecy and urgency with the comment, "I'm not one to talk about such things either," suggests the existence of an illegal perception. Yoon Jeong-sik, who was a media spokesperson for Yoon Seok-youl's presidential campaign, also participated in the initial contact, mentioning a plea bargain approach with statements implying leniency if they provided incriminating evidence against Lee Jae-myung. This further strengthens the indication that some in the prosecution and political circles collaborated to induce false testimony. Representative Kwon Seong-dong has remained silent without any significant response to New Investigation's request for clarification, and the fact that he has created a new Telegram account is being suspected as an attempt to destroy evidence. Chairman Kim Seong-tae even sent a text message to Jo stating, "I will connect Kwon and Bae," indicating his role as an intermediary in this transaction. Such facts strongly suggest the possibility that there was a so-called 'political operation' where political power and the prosecution colluded to fabricate facts and plan investigations. This constitutes a serious unconstitutional act that undermines the independence of prosecution investigations and a political crime that destroys the fundamental order of democracy.

Conclusion - The Crossroads of Truth Revelation and Political Reform

The launch of the Political Prosecution Manipulation Indictment Truth-finding Task Force is not merely a political response. It is the minimal starting point to correct the abuse of power and the distortion of judicial justice. The Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case essentially originated from sensitive issues of corporate interests and contact with North Korea, but it spiraled due to distorted investigations and operations for political purposes. The circumstances surrounding the inducement of Congressman Kwon Seong-dong and personnel from the Yoon Seok-yeol camp, the direction of the prosecution's investigation, and the testimony of Chairman Bae Sang-yun converge into one clear truth. That is, the investigation targeting President Lee Jae-myung was a manipulation aimed at maintaining power rather than uncovering the truth. In a democratic country, the prosecution should not reign above the law. The truth must be revealed, regardless of time, and justice must be executed irrespective of power. The activities of this Task Force are the first step in restoring such justice and a social practice aimed at reinstating the judicial order that has been disrupted by power. The people will no longer remain silent. Those who distort the truth for political purposes, deceive the public, and instrumentalize the law will face accountability. The social demand for truth-finding has already begun, and it will soon lead to a greater wave of political reform.