The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Royal palaces in Seoul offer free access during Chuseok holiday

  • 3

    Korean Baek In-chul wins stunning swimming gold

  • 5

    Koreans adapt to soaring food prices

  • 7

    American soldier who crossed into North Korea arrives back in the US, video appears to show

  • 9

    Drug offenders using dark web increasing rapidly: report

  • 11

    Korea wins gold in League of Legends competition; Faker tops podium

  • 13

    Over 2,200 aging applicants for reunions of separated families died this year: gov't data

  • 15

    N. Korea stipulates nuclear force-building policy in constitution

  • 17

    Korea claims third consecutive gold in men's team sabre fencing

  • 19

    S. Korea elected as IAEA board member for 2023-25

  • 2

    INTERVIEWRisk-averse culture is forcing daring creators to flee showbiz

  • 4

    Travis King in US custody after expulsion by N. Korea: Washington officials

  • 6

    Education ministry prohibits parents from recording classes

  • 8

    BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single

  • 10

    Blinken to release Chuseok message for S. Koreans for 3rd year

  • 12

    BOK likely to stand pat again next month on Fed's rate freeze, slowdown

  • 14

    1st gold in Hangzhou leaves N. Korean shooters in tears

  • 16

    Daejeon hosts 14th int'l play festival

  • 18

    China launches first cross-sea bullet train line near Taiwan Strait

  • 20

    Kim Woo-min snatches gold in freestyle swimming

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Sat, September 30, 2023 | 16:19
Editorial
Dig deeper into scandal
Posted : 2021-10-13 17:00
Updated : 2021-10-13 21:56
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Gov. Lee faces tough challenges in presidential bid

President Moon Jae-in instructed a swift and thorough investigation into a simmering scandal surrounding a lucrative land development project in Daejang-dong, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. It is the first time Moon has commented on the issue, indicating how seriously he takes it.

Moon is under pressure to reveal his position on the scandal, over which public sentiment has turned against his administration and the governing party. He had been silent on the matter, apparently wary of any potential impact his remarks could have had on the primary race of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) to pick its presidential candidate.

The DPK wrapped up the primary race, Sunday, electing Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung as its presidential candidate. Amid the brewing dispute over the scandal, Lee faces growing allegations about his possible connections to the scandal, as he set up the land development scheme in 2014 as Seongnam mayor as a public-private project for apartment construction.

Given the graveness of the case, the prosecution and the police should conduct a thorough investigation to lay bare the truth behind the scandal. Prosecutors are trying to get to the bottom of the case. On Monday, they summoned and questioned Kim Man-bae, a former journalist and major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu, an asset management firm involved in the project. The next day the prosecution requested an arrest warrant for Kim on charges of offering large bribes to city officials, lawmakers and judges in return for business favors.

Kim is also suspected of being responsible for Seongnam City's losses worth 110 billion won ($92.2 million) by raking in most of the development profits by deleting a profit-sharing clause in an illicit manner in collaboration with Yoo Dong-gyu, then acting president of Seongnam Development Corp. in charge of the city-run project. Kim faces allegations that he gave Yoo 500 million won in bribes and promised to offer him 70 billion won in return for his cooperation.

Kim also allegedly paid a 5 billion won bribe to the son of Rep. Kwak Sang-do of the opposition People Power Party, in what was called severance pay to curry favor with the lawmaker, who had been a presidential secretary during the 2013-17 Park Geun-hye admninistration. Investigators presumed that Kim embezzled 5.5 billion won from his company to pay for the bribes. However, Kim has denied any wrongdoing. Yoo allegedly played a key role in the project as a close confidant of Governor Lee. As both Kim and Yoo have denied the allegations, the prosecution has been tasked to discover the truth with concrete proof.

Law enforcement authorities should mobilize all possible means by tracking accounts of the related figures and thoroughly analyzing their communications records, if necessary. This is all the more necessary for the prosecution, as it has been under public criticism for neglecting to dig deeper into the politically sensitive case.

The National Assembly, for its part, should embark on its own fact-finding mission to shed light on the case. If necessary, the ruling and opposition parties should make bipartisan efforts to draft a bill calling for President Moon to appoint a special counsel to reveal the truth about the scandal.

As Governor Lee has vowed to attend the annual National Assembly audit of his province, he needs to give a clear explanation about his alleged involvement in the scandal. If he fails to clear himself of any suspicions about the case, his presidential bid will be off to a rough start.


 
miguel
wooribank
LG
Top 10 Stories
1Guide to Chuseok celebrations across Korea Guide to Chuseok celebrations across Korea
2Chuseok exodus begins ahead of extended 6-day holiday Chuseok exodus begins ahead of extended 6-day holiday
3Korea sees record-low births in July Korea sees record-low births in July
4Hyundai E&C to build upmarket apartment complex in Seoul's Gwanak District Hyundai E&C to build upmarket apartment complex in Seoul's Gwanak District
5Political battle intensifies after court rejects Lee's arrest warrant Political battle intensifies after court rejects Lee's arrest warrant
6Korea on track to prove esports prowess at Asian Games Korea on track to prove esports prowess at Asian Games
7[INTERVIEW] Risk-averse culture is forcing daring creators to flee showbiz INTERVIEWRisk-averse culture is forcing daring creators to flee showbiz
8Lotte focuses on health care, mobility to spur growth Lotte focuses on health care, mobility to spur growth
9DMZ Open Int'l Music Festival to be held in Goyang in November DMZ Open Int'l Music Festival to be held in Goyang in November
10Two Koreas trade barbs over nuclear war Two Koreas trade barbs over nuclear war
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Trailblazing nonagenarian artist honored for redefining Korean fiber art Trailblazing nonagenarian artist honored for redefining Korean fiber art
2[INTERVIEW] 'Coexistence of different art hubs across Asia is necessary': Art Week Tokyo Director INTERVIEW'Coexistence of different art hubs across Asia is necessary': Art Week Tokyo Director
3[INTERVIEW] With '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting INTERVIEWWith '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting
4Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene
5[INTERVIEW] ONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince' INTERVIEWONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince'
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group