Aftermath of 'Salmon and Alcohol Party' Ruling: What Happens to the Special Counsel Bill on Fabricated Indictment?

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The ruling party is sharpening its criticism against the court day after day, calling the first-instance verdict that the so-called "salmon and alcohol party" allegations related to the Ssangbangwool Group's North Korea remittance case were "perjury" an "incomprehensible and strange ruling." Meanwhile, the conservative opposition is raising its voice against the "Special Counsel Bill on Fabricated Indictment," warning that "forcing a withdrawal of the indictment would be grounds for impeachment."

Reporter Kim Kwan-jin has the story.

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Regarding the first-instance court's conclusion that former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young's claims of a "salmon and alcohol party" were "false testimony," the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) argued yesterday (June 22) that it was a "strange ruling."

[Jung Chung-rae / DPK Representative: How can they reach such a verdict? It is absolutely incomprehensible and impossible to accept...]

Since the "salmon and alcohol party" allegations were first raised two years ago, the DPK has pushed for the impeachment of the investigating prosecutors, a parliamentary investigation, and the introduction of a special counsel.

[Jung Chung-rae / Then-Chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee (in 2024): Was there a salmon party, an alcohol party, or a testimony seminar?]

[Lee Hwa-young / Former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor: Yes, there certainly was.]

[Lee Hwa-young / Former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor (April, Parliamentary Hearing): The salmon and alcohol party on May 17 was essentially a gathering to celebrate my surrender.]

Critics point out that because the truth of the "salmon and alcohol party" determines the validity of the claims regarding a fabricated indictment, the first-instance ruling undermines the DPK's logic.

However, the DPK expects the appellate court to reach a different conclusion, claiming that the circumstances of the alcohol party were already revealed through the National Assembly's investigation into the alleged fabricated indictment.

Nevertheless, the fact that this first-instance trial was conducted as a jury trial, combined with existing Supreme Court precedents stating that "the conclusions of a jury trial should not be easily overturned and must be respected," does not align with the DPK's expectations.

Yesterday, during the first meeting of the "Task Force to Prevent the Cancellation of Lee Jae-myung's Trial," the People Power Party (PPP) argued that since the alcohol party allegations have been proven false, any attempt by the opposition to push for the "withdrawal of the indictment" would constitute grounds for impeachment.

[Joo Jin-woo / PPP Lawmaker: If we cannot judge politicians even through trials, that is exactly what a dictatorship is.]

Regarding the push for the "Special Counsel Bill on Fabricated Indictment," the DPK only stated its principled position yesterday that it would begin discussions once the formation of the National Assembly's standing committees is complete.

(Reported by Oh Young-chun and Kim Yong-woo | Video by Won Hyung-hee)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.