From left: Lee Hwa-young, Lee Jae-myung, and Kim Sung-tae, key figures in the Ssangbangul illegal North Korea remittance allegations. [Photo=Yonhap News]

The Citizens' Committee for the Protection of the Public and Livelihood (Secretary-General Kim Soon-hwan) announced that it will request a travel ban and financial transaction sanctions from the UN, the United States, and the EU against Lee Jae-myung and all members of the Democratic Party of Korea regarding the Ssangbangul North Korea remittance allegations. 

At a press conference held at the National Assembly's Communication Center on the 13th, Kim Soon-hwan, Secretary-General of the Committee for the Protection of the Public, stated, "Based on the Supreme Court's ruling, we have filed a complaint against Lee Jae-myung and all National Assembly members of the Democratic Party of Korea for foreign exchange crimes." He added, "A petition for impeachment of the National Assembly and dissolution of the party also met the requirements with the consent of 50,000 citizens, but the National Assembly has repeatedly postponed its review."

Consequently, it was stated that documents are being sent to the UN, the United States, and the EU to inform them of the reality of the North Korea remittances and to request a 'travel ban' and 'financial transaction sanctions' against Lee Jae-myung and all 166 Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers.

Secretary-General Kim re-raised the Ssangbangul North Korea remittance allegations based on testimony at the National Assembly's 'Special Committee for Truth Investigation into the Suspicion of Political Prosecution's Fabricated Indictments by the Yoon Suk-yeol Administration,' stating, "The testimonies of Ssangbangul Chairman Kim Sung-tae, former Vice Chairman Bang Yong-chul, former prosecutor Kim Young-nam, prosecutor Park Sang-yong, and other related individuals indicate that the substantial remittance of $8 million to North Korea was ultimately a means to maintain the power of an individual named Lee Jae-myung."

Furthermore, criticizing the Democratic Party of Korea, he said, "We demanded that they clarify their position on whether, as a major political party, they would take legal action against Lee Jae-myung for foreign exchange crimes in violation of UN resolutions prohibiting North Korea remittances, or if the entire large ruling party would remain as accessories to the crime. Instead of answering, they are embarking on another path of crime by proposing a special prosecutor bill under the frame of 'fabricated indictments by the prosecution'."

The Committee for the Protection of the Public stated that this matter constitutes a 'violation of UN sanctions resolutions against North Korea' and plans to dispatch the relevant documents via international express mail as early as the 14th.

Secretary-General Kim added, "Looking at the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea, there are provisions regarding the resolution of sanctions measures against North Korea. The U.S. State Department and the EU also stipulate the suspension of financial transactions for all individuals involved in violations of North Korea sanctions resolutions." He also mentioned that there are precedents for preventing entry.

Account for contributions to the Committee for the Protection of the Public: Post Office 010108-01-014472 

Account Holder: Citizens' Committee for the Protection of the Public and Livelihood

Reporter Im Yo-hee