DPK locks horns with prosecution over leader's interrogation

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Wed, November 29, 2023 | 15:01

Politics

DPK locks horns with prosecution over leader's interrogation

Posted : 2023-09-10 17:07

Updated : 2023-09-11 16:06

Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung reclines in his tent in front of the National Assembly, Sunday, marking the 11th day of his indefinite hunger strike against the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. Yonhap

By Lee Hae-rin

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the prosecution traded barbs, Saturday, as questioning over DPK Chairman Lee Jae-myung's alleged involvement in an illegal money transfer to North Korea, ended inconclusively after eight hours. The politician has been summoned again for additional questioning this week.

The prosecution claimed that the politician was uncooperative throughout the questioning and gave unrelated answers to the questions asked, while Lee and the opposition party said the investigators failed to present incriminating evidence.

The two sides also clashed over the prosecution's request for Lee to be questioned again on Tuesday, as the opposition party criticized the prosecution's move as a way to further humiliate its leader.

Saturday's interrogation marked Lee's fifth appearance before the prosecution, as he has faced a series of corruption allegations that he claims were fabricated by what he calls the "political prosecution" of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

Lee was already indicted in two corruption cases in March, including one related to an apartment development project in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

In the latest probe, conducted by the Suwon District Prosecutors Office, Lee faces allegations of third-party bribery surrounding the unlawful transfer of $8 million to North Korea by Ssangbangwool Group, an underwear manufacturer, on behalf of Gyeonggi Province between January 2019 and January 2020. At the time, Lee was serving as the governor of the province.

Prosecutors suspect that $3 million was forwarded for Lee's planned visit to Pyongyang, while $5 million was for Gyeonggi Province's smart farm support program in North Korea.

Lee denied the charges against him. In a written statement he uploaded on social media shortly before his appearance for questioning, he said, "When I was serving as Gyeonggi Province governor, I tried to push for businesses with North Korea for humanitarian support and exchanges, but I did not provide, nor ask to provide, money and other goods that violate South Korean laws and U.N. sanctions."

The questioning, which began at 10:30 a.m. was halted at 6:40 p.m. upon Lee's request citing health reasons, as he has been staging an indefinite hunger strike against the Yoon administration since Aug. 31, urging the president to apologize for destroying people's livelihoods and democracy and to oppose Japan's release of treated radioactive wastewater.

Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung answers questions from reporters in front of the Suwon District Prosecutors Office in Gyeonggi Province, Saturday, after the prosecution questioned him over his alleged involvement in the illegal transfer of funds to North Korea. Yonhap

The DPK condemned the prosecution, claiming the probe was intentionally "time-wasting."

"The prosecution consistently delayed the time by asking questions that are intended to waste time, or that had been already asked, and made a unilateral notice for an additional appearance by the chairman," party spokesperson Rep. Kwon Chil-seung said.

"The party condemns the prosecution for carrying out an investigation to humiliate him, while keeping additional questioning already in mind."

The prosecution refuted the party's criticisms, claiming that Lee caused setbacks throughout the entire investigation by being uncooperative and insisting on answering questions with written statements instead of oral statements.

lhr@koreatimes.co.kr