South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party reacted strongly to a recent court decision regarding former Gyeonggi Province official Lee Hwa-young, convicted of perjury and other charges related to allegations of improper conduct, including a controversial “salmon sushi party.” The party asserts the verdict confirms a politically motivated investigation led by the prosecution. They accuse prosecutors of unfairly targeting Lee and criticize the main opposition People Power Party for allegedly attempting to distort public opinion regarding the case. The charges stemmed from Lee’s testimony concerning alleged undue influence by a key figure during his time in office. The Democratic Party maintains Lee’s innocence and views the ruling as a setback for political fairness. The opposition party has yet to issue a comprehensive response, but has previously called for a thorough investigation into the allegations. The case continues to fuel political tensions within South Korea.