By Choi Ha-young
Liberty Korea Party (LKP) Chairman Hong Joon-pyo was acquitted on bribery charges by the country's top court Friday, clearing the way for him to consolidate his leadership of the largest opposition party.
The Supreme Court upheld a lower court verdict, which found Hong not guilty, saying the testimony against him was "vague" and "inconsistent."
"I am relieved to be cleared of the false charge," Hong said in a press conference after the ruling. "I will hold the prosecutors responsible for fabricating evidence against me."
Party spokesman Rep. Chang Je-won said, "As Hong has been through a long tunnel, the LKP will take a new leap, leaving behind the long slump that followed the ouster of former President Park Geun-hye."
"We will be revived as a new conservative party, unifying around Hong's leadership."
The bribery allegation has been a problem for the conservative leader since the scandal erupted in April, 2015. Hong was suspected of receiving 100 million won ($92,600) from Sung Wan-jong, the late former chief of a local construction firm, ahead of his party's leadership race in 2011.
A local court initially sentenced him to 18 months in prison, but an appeals court overturned the ruling in February. The appeals court ruling paved the way for his presidential election bid in May.
The final verdict is likely to help Hong have a tighter grip on the party and enable him to expel lawmakers associated with the disgraced former President Park. He accelerated the anti-Park drive after Rep. Kim Sung-tae, a close aide, was picked as the party's floor leader, Dec. 12.
On Sunday, the LKP carried out a wide-ranging reshuffle, depriving pro-Park members of chief positions in electoral districts, a crucial post tasked with leading party members in preparation for the local elections in June. Pro-Hong figures are likely to replace them in the posts.
The reshuffle has brought strong backlash from the pro-Park faction.
"I vow to prevent Hong's bid to monopolize the party," said Rep. Kim Tae-heum, an LKP Supreme Council member and Park loyalist. Rep. Kim held a press conference to protest the "biased" reshuffle.
"By recruiting pro-Hong figures from outside the party, Hong is wielding absolute power," Kim said. "My remarks are being ignored in the Supreme Council which has been dominated by Hong's associates."
Ryu Yeo-hae, another Supreme Council member and a vocal advocate of former President Park, denounced Hong as a "dictator." Ryu is one of 62 people who lost their positions in electoral districts.
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| Hong Joon-pyo |
The Supreme Court upheld a lower court verdict, which found Hong not guilty, saying the testimony against him was "vague" and "inconsistent."
"I am relieved to be cleared of the false charge," Hong said in a press conference after the ruling. "I will hold the prosecutors responsible for fabricating evidence against me."
Party spokesman Rep. Chang Je-won said, "As Hong has been through a long tunnel, the LKP will take a new leap, leaving behind the long slump that followed the ouster of former President Park Geun-hye."
"We will be revived as a new conservative party, unifying around Hong's leadership."
The bribery allegation has been a problem for the conservative leader since the scandal erupted in April, 2015. Hong was suspected of receiving 100 million won ($92,600) from Sung Wan-jong, the late former chief of a local construction firm, ahead of his party's leadership race in 2011.
A local court initially sentenced him to 18 months in prison, but an appeals court overturned the ruling in February. The appeals court ruling paved the way for his presidential election bid in May.
The final verdict is likely to help Hong have a tighter grip on the party and enable him to expel lawmakers associated with the disgraced former President Park. He accelerated the anti-Park drive after Rep. Kim Sung-tae, a close aide, was picked as the party's floor leader, Dec. 12.
On Sunday, the LKP carried out a wide-ranging reshuffle, depriving pro-Park members of chief positions in electoral districts, a crucial post tasked with leading party members in preparation for the local elections in June. Pro-Hong figures are likely to replace them in the posts.
The reshuffle has brought strong backlash from the pro-Park faction.
"I vow to prevent Hong's bid to monopolize the party," said Rep. Kim Tae-heum, an LKP Supreme Council member and Park loyalist. Rep. Kim held a press conference to protest the "biased" reshuffle.
"By recruiting pro-Hong figures from outside the party, Hong is wielding absolute power," Kim said. "My remarks are being ignored in the Supreme Council which has been dominated by Hong's associates."
Ryu Yeo-hae, another Supreme Council member and a vocal advocate of former President Park, denounced Hong as a "dictator." Ryu is one of 62 people who lost their positions in electoral districts.
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