New Anti-Corruption Committee - Threatens Right in South Korea

(Source- 뉴스썰TV, 4.27) Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Committee. Graphic shows the composition of the seven seat committee considering referrals of suspected cases of official corruption for investigation and prosecution. The committee is the product of fast track reform legislation in the National Assembly desperately resisted by the right wing in South Korea since April 2019 but the bill passed anyway.

The image shows of the seven members of the committee, only two (far right) are designated from the opposition party. The senior member would be the Justice Minister (far left). Second from the left is the Chief of Court Administration. These two executive members are designated by the President of Korea, a democrat, and come from the ruling administration. Additionally, two additional committee members are recommended from the incumbent party, giving the seven member committee, a four member democratic majority. They are designated in blue in the diagram. One ostensibly independent member depicted in gray in the diagram, is the Chief of the Korean Attorneys Association. One can readily understand the militant and strident resistance to the prosecutorial reform bill by the conservative right. As a result to this moment the right wing opposition and the Chief Prosecutors office are resisting the imposition of "outside" supervisory authority and continuing their customary practice of instituting prosecutions of their opponents on the left, and stonewalling investigations of persons and institutions involved in corrupt practices and abuse of official positions. This state of affairs is sarcastically referred to by critics as the "republic of lawyers."

(Source- 뉴스썰TV, 4.27) Supreme Prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol (right) greeting prosecutor Han Dong-hun, (far left). The latter is suspected by political opponents of being the source of an unlawful relationship with the press to arrange for political motivated indictments.

There are a number of investigations that are alleged to have been either been obstructed or facilitated by the Supreme Prosecutor's influence, depending on the family or political orientation of the accused. The first involves a series of legal cases brought by, for and against Yoon Seok-yeol's mother in law and wife, who have emerged legally unscathed over the last seventeen years while others have gone to jail in fraudulent or otherwise illegal business schemes, which reaped Yoon's family millions of dollars. The second involves the case brought against the family of the former democratic Justice Minister Cho Guk, and the minister himself who was forced to step down. The third involves cases filed by public interest groups and the democratic National Assembly leadership against Hwang Kyo-ahn and Na Kyung-won, conservative opposition leaders for various actions either interfering in legal processes, or the functions of the National Assembly. The fourth involves alleged illegal use of the press, by the public prosecutor's office to generate public support for prosecution of political opponents, rivals or critics.

Political pundits on the left assert that but for the public health measures in effect as a result of the covid 19 epidemic, massive crowds would be gathering now in Seoul's public plazas to demand the investigation of Yoon Seok-yeol and his subordinate, Han Dong-hun, to determine whether they attempted to collude with Channel A News to frame Yoo Shi-min by soliciting perjury. Yoo is a prominent activist and highly visible media figure on the left. He is the chief executive of the No Mu-hyun Foundation. The unprecedented electoral victory by the Democratic Party on April 15, and polls showing Moon Jae-in's popularity in excess of sixty percent suggest this is true. The two conservative leaders, Hwang Kyo-ahn and Na Kyung-won, were soundly defeated in the April 15 general election. One counter strategy of the United Future Party after its disastrous defeat is to initiate litigation to determine that the April 15 election results were rigged. This seems unlikely as polls going into the election showed a rising trend of approval for Democratic President Moon Jae-in and just before the election estimated his approval at 56 to 58 percent.

Channel A News S.Korea shows satellite images of Kim's Yacht offshore Wonsan

(Source- Channel A News, Political Desk, 4.29 youtube; original image source NK News/NK Pro) https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=zOULbSzNfmQ&feature=emb_logo

This report was televised April 29 on Channel A News (Donga media a conservative South Korean media company). In the first couple of minutes of the broadcast a few satellite photos from NK Pro are depicted, the latest of which shows the yacht offshore Wonsan, North Korea, on April 21. NK Pro has a paywall.

The Channel A News, Political Desk, broadcast program's guest expert, Chu Seong-eo, said the movements of the yacht suggest Kim has been present at the summer compound in spite of reports of his heart surgery, coma, death, etc.

The title of the program reflects the analysis that Kim is in need of rest at his summer facility near Wonsan since early April after a difficult time with sanctions, the public health efforts, etc. Kim had seen the building projects focused on tourism as a way to endure the sanctions regime, but the world wide corona virus epidemic forced him to close the country off from foreign visitors creating additional economic stress on the regime. Specifically, the report indicated that Kim was having a case of nerves, berating subordinates, and depression, and needed rest for that reason.

Number 3 in the party power structure Park Bong-ju was pictured in a factory setting in Pyongyang with a mask on on the 28th. He hadn't been seen since the 15th. Workers in the factory were shown wearing masks as well.

More on the Kim walking around in Wonsan story

This is just more confirmation on the Kim in Wonsan story broken by DongA media on April 23, which the blog commented on at that time. This report is basically being ignored in US, Japanese, and other so called mainstream media. The avalanche of English language reports started with the Daily NK report that Kim had had cardiovascular surgery and was in serious condition. A media and internet frenzy if not propaganda campaign followed in which Kim was variously described as in critical condition, in a coma, or dead. One report originating in Japan showed Kim in a badly photoshopped image taken of his father's glass display coffin. The Daily NK story had only one unidentified source alleged to be inside North Korea, but started an avalanche of speculative news reports around the world based on nothing but rumors and hearsay from unreliable sources. Donga.com has been updating their English language translation of their original report:


[exclusive] Kim Jong Un seen to be walking around in Wonsan, says U.S. official
Posted April. 25, 2020 10:23, Updated April. 27, 2020 09:00
jkim

It has been reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un who has recently become subject to rumors about his health moved to Wonsan to avoid COVID-19. The U.S. authorities captured Kim walking on his own.

“It has been identified that Kim Jong Un had been staying in Wonsan during the entire last week,” said a U.S. government official. “He was seen to be walking on his own between April 15 and 20.” It has been reported that the movements of Kim’s cars and close associates were also witnessed and Kim was walking on his own without help from others or being in a wheelchair. The U.S. authorities seem to have identified such information based on the analysis of radars and images captured by reconnaissance planes.

http://www.donga.com/en/home/article/all/20200425/2047198/1/Kim-Jong-Un-seen-to-be-walking-around-in-Wonsan-says-U-S-official

(Source- TBS, Kim Aw-joon News. 4.26) "김정은 건강이상설, 외신발 가짜뉴스 넘쳐... 정부 발표 신뢰해"(정세현 수석부의장)│김어준의 뉴스 Kim Jong-un's health critical story, foreign produced fake news...believe our government." Kim Aw-joon (left); Jeong Se-hyun (right)

In an interview April 26, Jeong Se-hyun, a former South Korean Unification Minister, with close ties to the current administration of South Korea, said the imagery that identified Kim Jong-un in Wonsan, North Korea, walking around with aides and associates, was from a reconnaissance aircraft rather than a satellite, and was clear with high resolution making Kim's identification possible. Jeong commented that stories in CNN and other US and foreign mainstream media were "fake news," and there was really no significant difference in opinion between the US and South Korea intelligence agencies in interpretation and significance of the shared intelligence information concerning their assessment of Kim's presence at Wonsan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeong_Se-hyun

Jeong has considerably more expertise on North Korea, than anyone appearing or writing in the US media on this subject.

Kim Jong-un was observed at his Wonsan pad walking without assistance during the period from Apr 15 from Apr 20. I think imagery with a 7 to 10 centimeter resolution could easily identify Kim and his entourage at the facility. If there were any doubts they could potentially be dispelled by elint confirmation of related security movements and communications data. This is exactly what the earlier Donga exclusive report implied. I heard a South Korean expert on North Korea two days ago on a mainstream South Korean news broadcast confirm this view when he said it was a crucial judgement for the Blue House to determine that the need to assure the public was greater than the need to preserve secrecy concerning technical capabilities. The US government doesn't want to reveal the source of the information because of Trump's twitter blunder concerning a failed Iranian missile launch Aug 31, 2019, in which he publicized confidential satellite imagery to the public.

The source as reported in the original Donga reports was the US, as related by two South Korean government sources. The information was related to Donga media in an exclusive by 2 unnamed officials from the Ministry of Defense and the South Korean administration. This has been reported in South Korea for over three days now.

According to JTBC News April 26 an unnamed source from the Chinese International Liaison Office told them directly today that their team had gone to North Korea to advise Kim concerning coronavirus concerns by the North Korean government.

Kingmaker in North Korea?

(Source- Channel A News Top Ten, 4.24) Kim Il Sung (left); Kim Pyong-il (center); Thae Ku-min aka Thae Yong-ho (right)

According to an interview yesterday of Thae Yong-ho on Channel A News Top 10, Choe Ryong-hae is in a pivotal position as President and Vice Chairman of the State Affairs Committee to determine how any succession of leadership in North Korea proceeds in the event of the demise of Chairman Kim Jong-un.

As SPA president, Mr Choe is technically head of state, although real power in North Korea is wielded by Mr Kim and his immediate family.

Analysts say his appointment suggests a generational shift in the North's leadership, especially after the collapse of the Hanoi summit with Mr Trump in February.

Born in 1950, Mr Choe is considered Mr Kim's right-hand man – frequently referred to as the regime's "virtual number two official".

North Korea appoints Choe Ryong Hae as president, AFP April 12, 2019
https://www.thenational.ae/world/asia/north-korea-appoints-choe-ryong-hae-as-president-1.848051

(Source-Arirang News, 4.25.20) Choe Ryong-hae

Kim Yo-jong derives most of her power from her brother Kim Jong-un. The other potential successor to Kim Jong-un is his uncle, Kim Pyong-il who is Kim Jong-il's brother. He returned from overseas after a lengthy diplomatic career as ambassador in Europe, where he was essentially in exile for decades. Kim Pyong-il is Kim Il-sung's son. Thae Yong Ho, did an analysis of Kim Pyong-il yesterday in which it was reported that he is under house arrest, since his return in November 2019, because he is a preferable contender for power among the current ruling elites, led by Vice Chairman Choe, who now in their sixties, went to the same schools he did and now serve in the top party positions. Kim Pyong-il always has been regarded as a potential threat to succession, but he has remained a modest public servant with a low political profile to survive. Thae Yong Ho met him overseas in a professional capacity three times according to his interview on Channel A News Top Ten, yesterday. Kim Pyong-il served as ambassador to Poland and Czech Republic in his later assignments. Thae, a North Korean defector from the DPRK embassy in London, was elected to the South Korean National Assembly April 25 from the upper crust Gangnam district in Seoul, as a United Future Party Candidate. (Thae Yong-ho changed his name just before the election for some reason, now it's Thae Ku-min)

(Source- Channel A News Top Ten, 4.24) Kim Pyong-il (left)

Thae's assessment is that there could be a power struggle or purge in the event of Kim's demise, while the old guard clings to the past and regards Kim Yo-jong as too young and inexperienced to rule. Thae prefers that Kim Yo-jong succeed Kim Jong-un. The program depicted Kim Yo-jong as isolated in the top echelons of power in North Korea. Even a nominal succession by her to power would be subject to resistance under the surface by the older and more experienced cadre of party elites who allegedly identify with Kim Pyong-il. The scenario presented is the classic maneuvering that takes place around the royal family before succession during the Chosun dynasty.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Pyong-il

Kim Jong Un observed walking around Wonsan

Channel A News reported in an exclusive that Kim Jong Un has been observed walking around in the Wonsan area without assistance. They believe he's been there for at least four days between the 15 and 20 April.

Relying on two unidentified South Korean government and military related sources, The Channel A report indicated they got this information from an unidentified US administration source:

(Source- Channel A News 4.23, youtube upload)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK-fxwaWuI0

Analysts speculated that he was there to avoid risk of covid 19 infection in Pyongyang. The image shown above appears to be from a file video. The related DongA.com news exclusive report says that US analysts made this assessment based on electronic and imagery analysis.* DongA media owns Channel A news. According the Donga.com report, the US source said Kim Jong-un's health status was subject to further consideration by analysts.

*[단독] 美당국자 “김정은 원산서 걷는 모습 포착”
워싱턴=김정안 특파원 , 한상준 기자 , 황인찬 기자 , 도쿄=박형준 특파원입력 2020-04-24 03:00수정 2020-04-24 03:30
http://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20200424/100787903/1

봄날은 간다

아름다운 강산

경성살롱] 봄이 지나가는 4월에 들어요. 이정표의 '봄날은 간다'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAeNF11VOUw

봄날은 간다 (1953) Springtime is gone

lyrics 손로원 melody 박시춘; original performer 백설회


As my pink skirt fluttered in the spring breeze
Today too, my dress tie snapping away while
Mountain sparrows fly across the shrine path
When the flowers bloom, we'd laugh together, if they withered,
together we'd cry,
In that tender promise, spring is gone.

Deep green leaves of grass, did float by in the flowing water
Today too, flower petals fall away,
Blue throated birds warble on horse cart road
When stars appeared, we'd laugh, when they set we'd cry
Those frivolous memories of spring gone by,

Age of nineteen, in the twilight, became sad,
Still, my breast, beats strongly
As a drifting cloud over a new road
Birds take flight, I follow smiling,
If the birds cry, I follow wailing
That evocative song, springtime is gone.



http://www.mdjournal.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=30129


"연분홍 치마가 봄바람에 휘날리더라
오늘도 옷고름 씹어 가며
산제비 넘나드는 성황당 길에
꽃이 피면 같이 웃고 꽃이 지면 같이 울던
알뜰한 그 맹세에 봄날은 간다

새파란 풀잎이 물에 떠서 흘러가더라
오늘도 꽃편지 내던지며
청노새 짤랑대는 역마차 길에
별이 뜨면 서로 웃고 별이 지면 서로 울던
실없는 그 기약에 봄날은 간다

열아홉 시절은 황혼 속에 슬퍼지더라
오늘도 앙가슴 두드리며
뜬구름 흘러가는 신작로 길에
새가 날면 따라 웃고 새가 울면 따라 울던
얄궂은 그 노래에 봄날은 간다"

Trump "negotiating strategy" with South Korea backfires

The comments below were prompted by this Reuters article:

Exclusive: Inside Trump's standoff with South Korea over defense costs
Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali
8 MIN READ

APRIL 10, 2020 / 2:04 PM / Reuters

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-southkorea-trump-defense-exclusiv/exclusive-inside-trumps-standoff-with-south-korea-over-defense-costs-idUSKCN21S1W7

...Trump’s decision to reject the South Korean offer came last week after consultations with Esper and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, officials say. It followed months of intense negotiations that saw South Korea eventually propose to pay more money than ever before as part of a new Special Measures Agreement (SMA).

But Seoul’s proposed increase was far below even the substantially lowered expectations of the Trump administration, who had initially sought an exponential increase to as much $5 billion from the roughly $900 million South Korea agreed to in the last one-year, cost-sharing agreement.

The article above provides some background on the deadlock in the SMA military cost burden sharing negotiations between the US and South Korea. South Koreans point out the US demands do not include financial burdens South Korea maintains unilaterally to support US Forces Korea. Among those are the provision of bases cost free, and the construction of the largest US base outside the US at Pyongtaek, Camp Humphreys, at a cost of $9.8 billion US to South Korea. Additionally, South Korea provides troops trained in US language and customs to assist and facilitate US military missions in South Korea. (KATUSA: Korea augmentees to the US Army.) The US calculations also ignore the substantial purchases by South Korea of advanced weaponry from the US every year, and the substantial amount of its own GDP that South Korea commits to national defense each year, the highest among US allies. The exorbitant US demands are an disingenuous attempt to force South Korea to undertake additional costs of the so-called Indo-Pacific alliance aimed against China of which it is not a part. The Trump administration hopes to set a precedent with South Korea by forcing them to absorb a massively increased "share" of alliance costs which will then serve as an example to extract additional increased contributions from Japan and NATO allies.

The latest news reports in South Korea are now reporting that a supplementary budget measure in South Korea will augment spending for corona virus measures by 7.6 trillion KRW. To compensate for this S.Korean military operating costs will be reduced by 1.9 trillion KRW to 7.12 trillion KRW. Part of the reduction will be obtained by deferring defense acquisition expenditures currently anticipated by US defense contractors. F-35A acquisition expenditures are reduced by 300 billion won. The marine helicopter acquisition program potentially affecting Lockheed's MH60R bid in a competition with Leonardo's AW159 is reduced by 200 billion KRW. Aegis systems acquisition for the South Korean Gwangaeto III warship is reduced by 100 billion KRW. The supplemental budget proposal will also provide financing for thousands of Korean civilian employees laid off April 1 due to the deadlock in SMA negotiations.

(See: 美스텔스기 구매 미루고 與 근로자특별법 추진..방위비 반격?
최종일 기자 입력 2020.04.17. 11:55; https://news.v.daum.net/v/20200417115557294)

After being "advised" by Pompeo and Esper, President Trump personally rejected the South Korean offer of a 13 percent increase in its share of US military costs under the SMA. This is after the 8 percent increase in the South Korean share last year. US negotiators were hoping the recent forced leave without pay of thousands of Korean employees at US military facilities would pressure S.Korea to be more compliant with US demands at the negotiating table. The layoff took place during the recent general election campaigns for the National Assembly. Esper in fact, was dismissive of questioning by a South Korean reporter at a press conference with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs on April 14 on the eve of the election concerning the deadlock. He said the negotiations were a State Department function. Yet as the article at the link above shows, he was actively jawboning the South Korean defense secretary a week earlier. Ambassador Harris is in the deep freeze in South Korea due to "strained relations" with our ally. The US administration's bullheaded negotiating style has probably contributed to the overwhelming landslide the incumbent administration experienced on April 15. Rather than weakening the South Korean negotiating position, it has strengthened it.

Democratic Party scores overwhelming victory in S.Korea elections

(Source- Yonhap News, 4.16) Hwang Kyo-ahn's concession speech. "My fellow citizens, I'm sorry. At a critical national juncture, I couldn't stop the nation from making a mistake."


Classic inappropriate speech from Hwang, the leader of the conservative United Future Party which suffered a crushing defeat in the April 15 national elections. Instead of the crushing defeat for his party reflecting his numerous mistakes, in his view, it is the voters' mistake. Hwang had made a campaign point about making the election a judgement on Moon Jae-in's administration. Instead it turned out to be a judgement on him and his misguided politics. Every effort under his party leadership aimed at obstructing legislation, concealing abuse of power, and protecting the right wing network inside the prosecution office from reform has now failed. Worse, during the campaign in spite of the focus of the coronavirus epidemic, left media, and alternative media, clearly depicted the improper relationship between leadership on the right, the conservative press, and the prosecutor's office, and how it worked to conceal corruption on the right, while improperly framing cases against political opponents.

Hwang Kyo-ahn resigned his position as leader of the UFP. Na Kyung-won, the former Liberty Party Korea floor leader in the assembly also lost her seat. S. Korea will be a better governed country without these unethical and unscrupulous politicians. The far right, Christian religious fundamentalists who provide the base for Hwang and Na and the UFP, continued to assemble in Seoul unlawfully and call for Moon's impeachment during the initial phases of the public health emergency. Hwang and Na's enthusiastic support of these demonstrations and others earlier which illegally obstructed the proceedings of the National Assembly reflected poorly on them, and exposed them as adherents of authoritarian tactics.

President Moon Jae-in's democratic party won an estimated 180 seats in the 300 seat National Assembly. Of those seats, 163 were in district contests and an estimated 17 were proportional seats. The rightest party, the UFP, won 84 district seats and an estimated 19 proportional seats for a total of 103. This is the first time the democrats have won a majority in the legislature as a single party. Furthermore, they have won a super-majority, capable of passing fast track legislation, without support from any other parties. This is a major development in South Korean democratic politics. Needless to say, the expectations of the western alliance, and Japan that Moon would have his "wings clipped," have proven to another case of wishful thinking. Their profound misunderstanding of South Korean politics and Moon Jae-in's party continue.

Yoon clings to Na Kyung-won

(Source- 뉴스썰TV, 4.7 youtube) Na Kyung-won, United Future Party candidate for National Assembly representative (left) and Supreme Prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol posing for pictures in a political campaign setting.

Supreme Prosecutor Yoon again demonstrates that he has abandoned all pretense of objective demeanor in law enforcement as he embraces the former Liberty Party Korea floor leader's campaign for reelection to the assembly on April 15. Complaints referred to the prosecution office for various unlawful acts or criminal offenses by Na and her family have languished under Yoon's stewardship. ( See previous blog entries on the corruption scandals surrounding Na and Yoon respectively). There is a reciprocal give and take between Yoon and Na over the years which served effectively to obstruct investigation or prosecution of either of them or their family members. There are each more committed to each other than ever for their political survival. Na had attempted to obstruct the fast track reform legislation that was a top priority of the democratic party and justice party with everything the far right could muster in terms of obstruction of legislative process in the National Assembly.

Na has criticized news reports describing suspicions of internal interference in investigations and prosecutions related to several business frauds in which Yoon's wife and mother in law were parties as "fake news." Relevant media sources such as MBC News warn of an improper and toxic relationship between the conservative press, and the prosecutor's office as a legacy of authoritarian practices on the right in South Korea. Na's public rebuttals on the campaign trail, whether in support of her own family or Yoon's, are regarded as unfounded and perfunctory.

If it weren't for the current health emergency measures in effect currently in South Korea due to the corona virus epidemic, there is little question that hundreds of thousands of South Koreans would manifest their disgust for Yoon's unprofessional conduct by demonstrating in Seoul, to demand his resignation, investigation and prosecution. Yoon is expected to be the first target of the new Office for Prosecution of Public Officials. Election outcomes on April 15 in the National Assembly will be regarded as a litmus test for public approval of prosecutions of corrupt individuals in government, to break the undue influence the prosecutor's office in both bringing prosecutions and burying investigations based upon political favoritism.

Update: April 11

Na's has brought legal action, against MBC News, seeking an injunction prohibiting any republication of reports that her husband's action, as a judge delaying the case brought against Yoon's mother-in-law by a former business partner, alleging fraud, perjury, and obstruction of justice, was legally baseless stonewalling, and political favoritism. The court denied Na's action, saying there was no legal basis for it, and that requests to suppress press reports of suspicious actions of public officials should be regarded with great caution. This is second lawsuit brought by Na, alleging defamation against herself or her husband that has been dismissed in the last month.

Yoon clings to Hwang Kyo-ahn for his survival

Note- this blog entry has been edited and updated with new information from April 1 through April 4.

(Source- 뉴스썰TV April 1) Former Prime Minister during the Park Geun-hye administration, Hwang Kyo-ahn (center) and Supreme Prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol (right). Hwang is a candidate for National Assembly representative in the Jongno district. Hwang is the leader of the newly named United Future Party (conservative opposition party). He is running against Lee Nak-won, also a former prime minister from the incumbent democratic party. Both are presumed to be in contention for their parties' respective presidential nominations in 2022. Yoon's political calculus is that it is only through the success of the United Future Party in the upcoming National Assembly general election this April 15 that he can survive.

Public outrage grows in South Korea over the use of right wing political influence to protect the family of Supreme Prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol from prosecution over the years. Left of center media anticipate that Yoon is likely to be the first object of investigation by the Public Corruption office established by the recent fast track legislative reforms enacted into law earlier this year. In spite of the extreme efforts by the right to block that legislation, the very purpose of the prosecutorial reform was to prevent the corrupt use of prosecution powers for political purposes. Currently, it is this political corruption which the Yoon office is alleged to represent.

Yoon in the past has often been quoted as beholding to no person no matter how powerful and only dedicated to justice. This patina of impartiality has been stripped away in the recent disclosures about the role Hwang played in Yoon's bar discipline in December 2012, and the alleged role Na Kyung-won's husband played as judge in delaying pending investigations against Yoon's mother in law and wife for alleged business frauds. The photo above of Hwang and Yoon together in a partisan political setting rips away what is left of Yoon's professional image. Investigations against Hwang and Na for unlawful conduct interfering with National Assembly processes have gone nowhere, so the image itself represents a continuing conflict of interest by Yoon as the senior prosecutor of South Korea.

A current MBC story going viral in the alternative media alleges that a Channel A reporter from their legal coverage team, contacted a former CEO, Lee Cheol, from a private corporation called Sillajen and attempted to induce him to enter an arrangement to defame the head of the No Moo-hyun foundation, Yoo Shi-min, who has been an outspoken critic of the right. Yoo Shi-min's blistering accusations are often used by left leaning media against the leading lights in the United Future Party and specifically include Na Kyung-won, and lately, Yoon Seok-yeol. Lee Cheol and one of his former associates are the sources of the allegations. Lee Cheol has been in confinement pending charges of financial crimes.

(Source- MBC News 4.4) Graphic depicts relationships among Lee Cheol, former Value Investments chief executive (formerly Sillajen chief executive)(upper right); Channel A unnamed reporter (upper left); the Lee Cheol acquaintence (lower right) who is the MBC confidential source; and MBC as the news organization breaking the story (lower left). So the graphic represents Channel A reporter coercing evidence of political corruption from Lee Cheol in four letters, who in turn asks his acquaintance to meet with the Channel A reporter as a proxy because Lee is in confinement pending charges of financial crimes. Subsequently three meetings take place between the confidential source and the Channel A reporter. The confidential source then goes to MBC news as a "whistleblower" because he doesn't want to cooperate with the Channel A reporter's scheme.

It was reported by Lee that the Channel A reporter solicited a false report that Yoo Shi-min, the foundation director, had traded stocks in the corporation based upon inside information. The former corporate officer alleged the reporter told him that Channel A, in tacit cooperation with the prosecution office's request, would publish the defamatory information against Yoo Shi-min. The source said Lee was also requested to provide any financial information that could be used against persons connected to the incumbent political party or Blue House. According to the confidential source, connected to Lee, various threats and offers were made to Lee Cheol to induce his cooperation, including death threats, and threats to prosecute and imprison his wife. The Channel A reporter is alleged to have asserted a close relationship with the central prosecutor's office and the ability to see to it that Lee didn't get a prison sentence. Lee alleged that the reporter sent him letters which included threats, while he was confined in jail.

According to MBC News, the confidential source, alleged that he had met the Channel A reporter multiple times, who ultimately allowed him to hear a recording of incriminating conversations on the phone with a prosecutor allegedly close to Yoon Seok-yeol, as bona fides to support the illegal arrangement. According to the allegations as reported by MBC News, the source was confident that the voice in the recorded phone conversation was that of someone close to Yoon Seok-yeol, whose name has not been disclosed by MBC. Channel A News and the prosecutor's office deny all such allegations, and dispute the credibility of the news story by MBC or the existence of any corroborating evidence. According to MBC news, they have corroborated independently that their confidential source actually did meet with the Channel A reporter and they dispute Channel A's disavowal of knowledge of these meetings or their purpose which was stated as being intended to have an impact on the upcoming April 15 election cycle. A relatively well known finance minister and deputy prime minister from the Park Geun-hye administration, Choi Kyoung-hwan, had been implicated earlier in financial misconduct involving Sillajen investments. Allegedly, according to the confidential source there was a perceived need to muddy the waters of corruption in the prior conservative administration by implicating Yoo Shi-min or other pro-Moon politicians in the financial scandal.

Apparently, there are recordings of conversations between the confidential source and the Channel A reporter. Excepts of the recordings have been played on MBC news broadcasts. One potential defense on the part of Channel A is to disavow knowledge of the reporter's individual actions. The confidential source said phone records and text messages he had received from Channel A would refute their defense. Channel A is a subsidiary of Dong A media which owns DongA Ilbo, a major conservative newspaper in South Korea. The Minister of Justice, Chu Mi-ae made a statement concerning the affair, which she felt warranted an investigation, on the basis of a suspected improper relationship between the press and prosecution, and the possibility of a politically motivated investigation.

Update April 10: The name of the Channel A reporter alleged to have engaged with Lee Cheol by letter and met with his associate, has been dislosed by MBC as Lee Dong-jae ( 이동재 ). Han Dong-hun, formerly, chief prosecutor of the Pusan office, has been identified as the prosecutor alleged to have had an improper relationship with reporter Lee from Channel A. According to late reports, he has been transferred to the Human Rights Office of the Central Prosecutor's Office. Both Channel A and the prosecutor's office deny the allegations.