Lee Hwa-young denies attacking President Lee Jae-myung

Former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young has clarified his position regarding President Lee Jae-myung, denying that he has ever attacked the President. His legal counsel, Kim Kwang-min, stated that Lee’s recent expressions of dissatisfaction were directed at what he perceives as “state violence” perpetrated by prosecutorial powers rather than at the President himself.

Lee, who is currently serving a prison sentence following a Supreme Court ruling involving bribery and North Korea remittance allegations involving the Ssangbangwool Group, claims he is a victim of a manipulated investigation. His legal team intends to file a petition with the UN Human Rights Committee to seek relief.

Political analysts suggest the situation places President Lee in a dilemma: granting parole or amnesty could draw public criticism of favoritism, while maintaining the current sentence may lead to Lee Hwa-young providing testimony in ongoing trials to reduce his own culpability.