Lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Korea shouted in unison at the National Assembly, "Kim Yong is not guilty." Democratic Party lawmakers, raising their voices that a "fabricated indictment by political prosecutors" had been exposed through a parliamentary inquiry, urged that the former deputy head Kim, who received five-year prison sentences in both the first and second trials, be found not guilty.
On the afternoon of the 13th at the National Assembly, the "press briefing by Kim Yong on the fabricated indictment by political prosecutors" was held, where former deputy head of the Institute for Democracy Kim Yong and Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers attended and argued for Kim's innocence. Lawmaker Kim Tae-nyeon said, "From my position, having joined hands with (Deputy Head Kim) in political activities, this is truly absurd beyond words," adding, "I believe in Deputy Head Kim's innocence."
At the briefing, most of the lawmakers who spoke repeated the phrase "Kim Yong is not guilty," emphasizing that indications of fabrication had been revealed through the "Special Committee on the Parliamentary Inquiry to Uncover the Truth of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's fabricated indictment and to cancel the prosecution." They went on to argue that the Supreme Court should hand down a not-guilty verdict.
The former deputy head Kim was indicted on charges of receiving illegal political funds and other benefits from private developers during the Daejang-dong project and was sentenced to five years in prison in both the first and second trials. Kim was released on bail last Aug. and is now awaiting a Supreme Court ruling.
Lawmakers Park Hae-chul and Jeong Jin-uk sharply criticized the prosecutors' "fabricated indictment" and repeatedly asserted the innocence of former Deputy Head Kim Yong. Park said, "The political prosecutors' power to fabricate indictments is being revealed through the parliamentary inquiry," adding, "We will push new follow-up measures that can once again clearly affirm the meaning of the people's judgment." He then said, "Kim Yong is not guilty."
Jeong likewise said, "Signs of prosecutors' inducement and fabricated indictment to frame Deputy Head Kim Yong as guilty are emerging one after another," and urged, "The Supreme Court must immediately correct the trial irregularities and hand down a not-guilty verdict."
Lawmaker Kim Ki-pyo said, "This case is a not-guilty case with no substance," and argued, "The Supreme Court must deliver a just ruling that conforms to the facts as soon as possible." He continued, "It is the Supreme Court's duty to ensure that Deputy Head Kim can fulfill his role," stressing, "Kim Yong is not guilty, and I stake my honor on it."
Lawmaker Kim Hyun-jung also said, "Kim Yong is not guilty." Kim said, "While the facts are being uncovered one by one through the parliamentary inquiry, I believe this case was distorted when a second investigation team came in after the change of administration," adding, "I will work to ensure the truth is fully brought to light."