Lee Yeon-woo is a financial journalist at The Korea Times. Her wide range of reporting includes policies, macroeconomics, stock market, companies and even crypto. She is passionate about connecting the dots in Korean finance and making it easier for foreign nationals to understand. Based on her previous experience as a national reporter, she also has a keen interest in social issues within the sector, including gender equality and ESG. Your tips and insights are always appreciated. You can send them to yanu@koreatimes.co.kr.
Opposition party chief says he's paying price for presidential election defeat
Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a press conference held in the National Assembly, Monday. Yonhap
By Lee Yeon-woo
By Lee Yeon-woo
Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), said he will appear again for questioning by prosecutors over his alleged involvement in a massive land development scandal in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.
With this remark, Lee defied speculation that he would reject the prosecution's call to appear again for further investigation.
The main opposition party leader was critical of the prosecution, reiterating his stance that their investigation into him is nothing more than political retaliation.
“I'm paying the price for my defeat in the presidential election. The investigation is insulting and unfair. But as a loser, I will appear again because they ask me to come again,” Lee said while holding a press conference at the National Assembly on Monday.
On Saturday, Lee was questioned by prosecutors for more than 12 hours about his alleged role in the Seongnam land development scandal, while he served as the mayor of the city. He is suspected of having enabled an unnamed private asset management firm to earn enormous profits from the city's land development project and used the money for his election campaigns. Lee has strongly denied the allegation.
Lee requested his fellow lawmakers and supporters not to gather in front of the prosecution, as he believes not only their appearance can trigger public division but also because he believes it is sad to see them suffer for hours on end in the freezing weather.
He said he will appear before the prosecution on weekends.
Throughout the press conference, Lee continuously claimed the probe constitutes political oppression. He said the investigation does not make sense, alleging that the prosecution is taking advantage of the investigation not to find the truth but to indict innocent people. He argued that the Republic of Korea has become a country for the prosecutors and is run by the prosecutors.
His remarks seem to target President Yoon Suk Yeol, a prosecutor-turned-president.
Rep. Lee was critical of the prosecutors' questioning of him.
“During the evening, they asked the same questions over and over again, showed the same documents, and slowed the tempo of their questions. Considering they continuously held back information about the remaining time, I could see that they intentionally dragged out the time to summon me again, even though they could complete the questioning within the available time,” Lee said.
“I believe this represents the prosecution's abuse of power. They distort the case to fit into the contrived plots, humiliate not investigate, and politically act to arouse the public's suspicion,” Lee added.
Lee proposed Yoon sit down with him for talks.
During the party's supreme council meeting held a few hours earlier than the media meeting, he asked Yoon to summon him not only to the prosecution but also to the presidential office to “stabilize livelihoods and solve economic difficulties.”
“Even though we don't like each other, we have to meet,” Lee said again at the media meeting.