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 President
  • 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
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 President
  • 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
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

    US urged to respect Korea's position amid US-China chip war

  • 3

    Korean culture as the solution

  • 5

    Calls grow for regulations on AI technology on webcomics

  • 7

    ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry?

  • 9

    Korea walks fine line between US, China in chip war

  • 11

    Jeju-based shamanism researcher documents connection between humans, crows

  • 13

    Man arrested for opening airplane emergency exit during flight

  • 15

    Biden says debt default deal 'very close' while deadline now set at June 5

  • 17

    1 in 6 N. Korean children under 5 suffer from stunted growth: report

  • 19

    Arrest warrant issued for man who opened plane door mid-air

  • 2

    Stray Kids, NCT's Taeyong, ATEEZ gear up for June releases

  • 4

    Chinese carmakers challenge Hyundai Motor, Kia in global markets

  • 6

    Temples celebrate Buddha's birthday

  • 8

    China, Korea agree to strengthen talks on chip industry: Chinese commerce ministry

  • 10

    CJ, Shinsegae study temple food to expand vegan lineup

  • 12

    Synth pop regains popularity with K-stars, riding retro boom

  • 14

    Mexico president eyes deals with China, Korea to combat fentanyl

  • 16

    Africa Day celebrated in Korea with book talk

  • 18

    Russia's Lavrov tells China envoy 'serious obstacles' to Ukraine peace

  • 20

    Tech leads more gains on Wall Street

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
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Mon, May 29, 2023 | 18:43
Law & Crime
Opposition leader under siege as corruption probe expands
Posted : 2022-10-24 17:17
Updated : 2022-10-25 16:50
Jung Min-ho
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, pauses before answering reporters' questions near the party's headquarters in Seoul, Monday, as prosecutors search the Institute for Democracy, a think tank. Yonhap
Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, pauses before answering reporters' questions near the party's headquarters in Seoul, Monday, as prosecutors search the Institute for Democracy, a think tank. Yonhap

Prosecutors search headquarters of Democratic Party of Korea

By Jung Min-ho

When prosecutors were investigating key officials at Seongnam Development Corp. last year for alleged corrupt business deals with property developers in the past, Lee Jae-myung, the city's former mayor, denied close ties with any of them.

Speaking to reporters on Oct. 3, 2021, Rep. Lee, now the chief of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), had said that only a few people, such as Kim Yong and Jeong Jin-sang, deserved to be called his "close aides."

It was revealed Monday that prosecutors imposed an overseas travel ban on Jeong, his vice chief of staff for political affairs. This travel ban comes only two days after Kim, deputy director of the Institute for Democracy, the party's in-house think tank, was arrested on charges of receiving bribes investigators believe were used to finance Lee's election campaign.

Prosecutors appear to be targeting Lee as they are now looking into the sources of his political funding.

The same day, prosecutors raided the think tank, which is inside the party's headquarters. It was their second search attempt after they returned empty-handed last week due to fierce resistance from DPK officials.

Lee has said that the prosecutors' investigation amounts to "political retaliation." He implored the public "to protect democracy" as he entered his office.

Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, pauses before answering reporters' questions near the party's headquarters in Seoul, Monday, as prosecutors search the Institute for Democracy, a think tank. Yonhap
Investigators carry boxes as they walk toward the office of the Institute for Democracy, a think tank located inside the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Korea, in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Prosecutors charge that Kim, who served as the head of Lee's campaign for the DPK presidential primary, received 840 million won ($590,000) from property developers who allegedly received favors during Lee's tenure as Seongnam mayor (2010-18).

Yoo Dong-gyu, former acting president of Seongnam Development Corp., told prosecutors that Kim asked him for 2 billion won in February 2021 for Lee's election campaign.

Yoo later told Nam Wook, a key figure in the development project, about the demand. Nam then collected more than 840 million won and gave it to Kim through Yoo and another alleged accomplice at the public enterprise, Jung Min-yong.

Nam is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the corruption scandal centering on a little-known asset management firm, Hwacheon Daeyu, which rewarded certain investors with massive profits from a development project in Seongnam's Daejang District. Nam reportedly made more than 100 billion won after investing only about 87 million won.

Kim has denied all of the accusations, according to his lawyer.

Jeong, a former Seongnam official under Lee, is suspected of taking bribes from developers, including Yoo and Nam, possibly for inside information and helping them build connections with city policymakers, including the former mayor.

In a separate case, Jeong is also being investigated over his alleged involvement in attracting 5.5 billion won worth of donations from Doosan Engineering & Construction between 2016 and 2018 for Seongnam FC, the city's football club, in return for altering the usage purpose of the land the company had owned in the city. Investigators suspect administrative favors would have been impossible without support from Lee, who was also the head of the football club at the time, and that some of the money was misappropriated.

DPK lawmakers, who hold a majority in the National Assembly, declared that any possibility of their cooperation with the Yoon Suk-yeol administration is over, accusing the president of directing the investigation "to kill the opposition party."

The party also threatened to boycott a budget speech that Yoon is scheduled to give at the Assembly on Tuesday unless he agrees to an independent counsel investigation it proposed earlier. The proposal was immediately rejected by the ruling People Power Party, which dismissed it as the DPK's attempt to delay the investigation.

Rep. Oh Yeong-hwan, the DPK's floor spokesman, accused the Yoon administration of stepping up efforts only for "political revenge," while overlooking the economic slump affecting the lives of ordinary people.

It remains to be seen if the message will resonate with the public. Two former presidents ― Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye ― were convicted of corruption soon after Moon Jae-in was elected president in 2017. While Park was pardoned years later, Lee, 80, is still behind bars.




Emailmj6c2@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry? ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry?
2Korea walks fine line between US, China in chip war Korea walks fine line between US, China in chip war
3Jeju-based shamanism researcher documents connection between humans, crows Jeju-based shamanism researcher documents connection between humans, crows
4Man arrested for opening airplane emergency exit during flight Man arrested for opening airplane emergency exit during flight
5Labor unions seek to attract migrant workers at shipyards Labor unions seek to attract migrant workers at shipyards
6Half of medical tourists visiting Korea inspired by K-culture Half of medical tourists visiting Korea inspired by K-culture
7Hyundai Steel receives EPD certification for low-carbon H-beam products Hyundai Steel receives EPD certification for low-carbon H-beam products
8[RAS KOREA] Preserving memories at Cheongju City Archives RAS KOREAPreserving memories at Cheongju City Archives
9Mirae Asset holds ETF Rally 2023 for global expansion Mirae Asset holds ETF Rally 2023 for global expansion
10Gov't moves to assist 3,400 Koreans stranded in typhoon-hit Guam Gov't moves to assist 3,400 Koreans stranded in typhoon-hit Guam
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Chun Woo-hee becomes chameleon con artist in 'Delightfully Deceitful' Chun Woo-hee becomes chameleon con artist in 'Delightfully Deceitful'
2[INTERVIEW] Long-awaited extension of Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale to be pushed forward INTERVIEWLong-awaited extension of Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale to be pushed forward
3SHINee celebrates 15th anniversary of debut: 'It feels surreal' SHINee celebrates 15th anniversary of debut: 'It feels surreal'
4ENHYPEN reaches new career high with latest album 'Dark Blood' ENHYPEN reaches new career high with latest album 'Dark Blood'
5'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' raises bar with epic battle scenes 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' raises bar with epic battle scenes
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