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

[Anchor]

A lower court ruling that the "salmon and alcohol party" allegations related to the Ssangbangwool Group's North Korea remittance case were perjury has shaken the core basis of the opposition party's claims of a "fabricated prosecution." However, the Democratic Party continues to attack the court, calling it a "bizarre and unacceptable ruling." Meanwhile, the ruling party is raising its voice against the proposed "Special Counsel Bill on Fabricated Prosecution," warning that pushing for the withdrawal of the indictment would be grounds for impeachment.

Reporter Kim Gwan-jin has the story.

[Reporter]

Following the first-instance court's conclusion on June 20 that the "salmon and alcohol party" claims made by former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young were "false testimony," the Democratic Party labeled the ruling as "bizarre" today.

[Jung Chung-rae/Democratic Party Representative: How can they reach such a verdict? It is absolutely unacceptable and impossible to acknowledge...]

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

[Jung Chung-rae/Then-Chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee (in 2024): Did a salmon party, alcohol party, or testimony seminar take place?]

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

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

As the reality of the "salmon and alcohol party" determines the validity of the "fabricated prosecution" claims, critics point out that the first-instance ruling undermines the Democratic Party's logic.

However, the Democratic Party maintains that the circumstances of the party were already revealed through the parliamentary investigation into the alleged fabricated prosecution, and they express hope for a different outcome in the appellate court.

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

At the first meeting of the "Task Force to Prevent the Cancellation of Lee Jae-myung's Presidential Trial" held today, the People Power Party argued that since the alcohol party allegations have been proven false, any attempt by the opposition to force a "withdrawal of the indictment" would constitute grounds for impeachment.

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

Regarding the push for the "Special Counsel Bill on Fabricated Prosecution," the Democratic Party stated today that it would only begin discussions after the formation of the parliamentary standing committees is completed.

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