The leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee Jae-myeong, has been criticized for posting the trial record of former Vice-Governor of Peace in Gyeonggi-do, Hwa-young Lee, on social media. The case is currently under investigation by the Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office. It has been suggested that Lee’s actions may violate the Personal Information Protection Act.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office recently transferred a case to the Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office. The case involves allegations that Lee violated the Criminal Procedure Act. The Free Daehan Hogukdan, a conservative civic group, made the accusations. The Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office is also investigating allegations of remittances to North Korea and payment of attorney fees by the Ssangbangwool Group, as well as allegations of bribery by the former vice-governor.
The controversy began when Lee posted a Facebook post titled ‘Fake News Production Process,’ which included the witness interrogation report of former chairman Kim Seong-tae’s chief secretary, Mr. Eom. He appeared as a witness in the trial of former vice-governor Lee. The post was later deleted.
Former Vice-Governor Lee’s lawyer claimed that he gave the report to Attorney A, who is defending Lee’s suspicion of remittance to North Korea. Attorney A acted as a spokesperson for Lee’s presidential campaign last year and is now representing Kim Yong, vice president of the Democratic Research Institute. The Dong-A Ilbo attempted to reach Attorney A, but was unsuccessful. A former prosecutor’s lawyer has suggested that the unauthorized leakage of trial materials may violate various laws, including the Criminal Procedure Act, the Personal Information Protection Act, and the crime of leaking business secrets.
Lee Jae-myeong, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. 2023.3.22. news 1
In addition, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung posted the trial record of former Vice-Governor of Peace in Gyeonggi-do Hwa-young Lee, who is on trial for bribery, on social media, and the accused case was assigned to the Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office. Inside and outside the legal world, it is pointed out that “CEO Lee’s actions may violate the Personal Information Protection Act.”
According to the legal community on the 2nd, the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office recently transferred a case in which a conservative civic group, the Free Daehan Hogukdan, accused Lee of violating the Criminal Procedure Act to the Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office. This case was assigned to the 1st Criminal Division of the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office (Chief Prosecutor Son Jin-wook). The Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office is currently investigating allegations of remittances to North Korea and payment of attorney fees by the Ssangbangwool Group, and allegations of bribery by the former vice-governor.
The controversy started when CEO Lee posted a post on his Facebook page on the 20th of last month titled ‘Fake News Production Process’. Representative Lee attached to the letter the witness interrogation report on January 27 of Mr. Eom, who was the chief secretary of former chairman Kim Seong-tae, the real owner of Ssangbang-wool, who appeared as a witness in the trial of former vice-governor Lee.
Afterwards, Suwon District Court Criminal Agreement Division 11 (Chief Judge Shin Jin-woo) said at the trial of former Vice-Governor Lee on the 21st of last month, “It is very inappropriate. It should not happen,” he strongly criticized, and CEO Lee deleted his post a day later.
Regarding the path of the trial record leak, former Vice-Governor Lee’s lawyer said, “I gave the report to Attorney A, who is in charge of defending former Vice-Governor Lee’s suspicion of remittance to North Korea.” . Attorney A served as a spokesperson for Lee’s presidential campaign last year and is now acting as a lawyer for Kim Yong, vice president of the Democratic Research Institute, who is accused of receiving illegal presidential campaign funds from the Daejang-dong gang. The Dong-A Ilbo called Attorney A several times, but might not reach him. A former prosecutor’s lawyer pointed out that “unauthorized leakage of trial materials may violate the Criminal Procedure Act, the Personal Information Protection Act, and the crime of leaking business secrets.”
Reporter Park Jong-min blick@donga.com
Reporter Yu Won-mo onemore@donga.com
The leak of trial records and the subsequent social media post by Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung has caused quite a stir in legal and political circles. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what consequences will result from these actions. What is clear is that the controversy has brought attention to the importance of protecting personal information and ensuring the proper handling of trial materials. Time will tell what the outcome of this case will be, but it serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between transparency and privacy in our legal system.
