Main opposition party chief in crosshairs of state prosecutors

Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung speaks during a party lawmakers' meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Thursday. The backdrop reads, "Stop coercion on opposition party, Halt revenge investigation!" Joint Press Corps

By Nam Hyun-woo

Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung is in the crosshairs of prosecutors, who are narrowing the focus of their investigation into a series of allegations raised against him by arresting or indicting key aides.

Lee and the DPK are striving to resist, claiming that the investigation is part of a drive by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration to persecute the main opposition party. Opposition lawmakers have boycotted a series of National Assembly audit sessions on the prosecution and government ministries, and are demanding an apology from the president.

During a general meeting of DPK lawmakers, Thursday, Lee said the ruling bloc and the prosecution are abusing their powers to “coerce the main opposition party.”

“This is not politics, this is coercion,” Lee said. “It is shameful that the power given by the people is being wasted on coercing the main opposition party and on an unprecedented raid attempt on the party's headquarters.”

Lee's comments came after an eight-hour stand-off on Wednesday between prosecutors, who sought to raid a DPK think tank located inside the party's headquarters, and a group of lawmakers who blocked the investigation. The prosecution sought to search the think tank, called the Institute of Democracy, as part of its investigation into a land development scandal in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, in which the ruling bloc believes Lee was involved.

Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Rep. Park Beom-kye, front row center, speaks as DPK lawmakers hold banners condemning the prosecution's attempt to raid the party's headquarters during a meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Thursday. Joint Press Corps

Hours before the raid attempt, the prosecution arrested Kim Yong, vice president of the think tank, on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. Prosecutors suspect that Kim had received hundreds of millions of won from those who benefited from the land development scandal.

Kim is better known as one of the closest aides to Lee, serving as one of the team leaders in Lee's election camp during the past presidential election and spokesperson of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government when Lee was governor of the province.

In October of last year, Lee described Kim and Chung Jin-sang, who is now his political affairs secretary, as his closest aides. In 2020, when Kim published a book, Lee referred to him as “a friend and my other self.”

Along with Kim, the prosecution is eyeing Chung over allegations that Lee received illegal donations from companies in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province through Seongnam FC football club when he was mayor of the city. The prosecution searched Chung's home on Oct. 13 due to suspicions that he colluded with Lee.

Also on Oct. 14, the prosecution indicted former deputy governor of Gyeonggi Province Lee Hwa-young, another close aide of the DPK chairman, for receiving 260 million won in bribes from underwear company Ssangbangwool. The company is alleged to have paid 2 billion won to cover Lee's legal fees in return for favors.

As the prosecution corners Lee's aides, the DPK boycotted a National Assembly audit on the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on Thursday, with its members of the Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee holding a press conference demanding an apology from the president.

President Yoon Suk-yeol responds to reporters' questions as he arrives at his office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Thursday. Joint Press Corps

Regarding the DPK's condemnation, Yoon told reporters that he is not aware of the details of the investigations, but added, “If we think about raids into news companies when the current opposition party was the ruling party, the people will know whether the opposition's claim is legitimate.”

Yoon was referring to the prosecution's April 2020 raid on broadcaster Channel A as part of its investigation into allegations that a reporter with the broadcaster claimed that he is close to Yoon, who was prosecutor general at the time, and threatened a source to provide information about corruption allegations involving liberal politicians.

Lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) argued that the DPK should stop protecting its chairman and cooperate with the prosecution.

“If they continue crying foul over 'political coercion,' the legal risk posed by Lee Jae-myung will only grow,” PPP members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee said in a press conference. “The DPK should distance itself from Lee's personal corruption and cooperate with the investigations.”