The South Korean Ministry of Justice has revealed that the Suwon District Prosecutor's Office pressured Kim Sung-tae, former chairman of the company Ssangbangwool, to make statements linking President Lee Jae-myung to illicit funding activities. In a report dated April 4, 2023, it was noted that Kim expressed frustration during prison visits, indicating he was repeatedly asked to provide evidence against Lee, implying that the prosecutors were behaving unethically. Kim's statements reflected his anger towards the prosecution’s tactics, labeling them dishonest and suggesting he did not actually have incriminating information about Lee.

Initially, while living in hiding abroad, Kim denied any connection with Lee and claimed that the funds sent to North Korea were business-related. However, following his extradition to South Korea, he changed his testimony, asserting that $8 million was sent to North Korea under the pretext of a smart farm support project while Lee was the governor of Gyeonggi Province. This shift in narrative appears to indicate a change in strategy, possibly under pressure from the authorities, and it raises questions about the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

Moreover, it has been reported that Kim attempted to align his testimony with that of An Bu-su, a key witness in the North Korean remittance case, suggesting coordinated efforts to present a unified narrative that could mitigate their potential legal consequences. This situation underscores the complexities surrounding the case against Lee Jae-myung, as it continues to unfold amidst claims of procedural misconduct by prosecutors and raises significant implications for the political landscape in South Korea.