[News Today] “Never seen President Lee Jae Myung”

[LEAD]

At a parliamentary hearing on the alleged "fabricated indictment" probe, a key figure in the Ssangbangwool case, former Ssangbangwool chairman Kim Sung-tae appeared for the first time. He kept his remarks cautious. But he insisted he has never met President Lee Jae Myung and denied the so-called “salmon and alcohol party.”

[REPORT]

Rival parties grilled former Ssangbangwool chairman Kim Sung-tae in his first parliamentary hearing.

Lee Geon-tae / Democratic Party

How much pressure did you face from the Yoon administration's political prosecution?

Kim Seong-tae / Former Chair of Ssangbangwool Group

They arrested nearly 17 people. Those who haven't experienced it would never know.

Yoon Sang-hyun / People Power Party

Why did you pay for then-governor Lee Jae Myung's USD 3 mn trip to N. Korea?

Kim Seong-tae / Former Chair of Ssangbangwool Group

I can't answer that because I'm on a related trial.

Kim noted, however, that there was no collusion with President Lee Jae Myung.

Kim Seong-tae / Former Chair of Ssangbangwool Group

I never saw anything involving Pres. Lee Jae Myung and I had no dealings with him.

He also said that there was no so-called 'salmon and alcohol party'.

Kim Seong-tae / Former Chair of Ssangbangwool Group

I wish you wouldn't talk about food anymore. I didn't drink on May 17.

This final hearing was held to wrap up parliamentary hearings so far.

The Democratic Party said the hearing confirmed that the prosecution had conspired against President Lee.

The People Power Party countered that it had confirmed the parliamentary investigation was an attempt to erase the president's crimes.

The special committee on the parliamentary investigation is to adopt a findings report on Thursday before wrapping up its work.