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| Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly, Monday. Yonhap |
By Lee Hyo-jin
Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has come under mounting pressure as corruption investigations surrounding him are intensifying following the arrests of his close aides.
With the probe zeroing in on Lee, ruling party lawmakers are pressuring him to step down, while some DPK lawmakers are demanding official explanations from the party leader.
"It has become highly possible that the black money earned from the Daejang-dong development scandal flowed into the hands of two people and was used in Lee's election campaigns for Seongnam mayor, primary and presidential elections," Chung Jin-suk, incumbent chief of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), said Monday.
He urged Lee to make a "decision" as the party leader to unshackle the DPK lawmakers who have so far been unified in their efforts to protect their leader.
The "two people" Chung was referring to are Lee's confidants ― his vice chief of staff Jeong Jin-sang and Kim Yong, deputy head of the DPK's Institute for Democracy think tank. Both were recently arrested over bribery allegations in connection to the high-profile development project in Seongnam's Daejang-dong, which took place during Lee's time as city mayor.
Jeong is suspected of receiving about 140 million won of bribes between 2013 and 2020 from real estate developers for business favors related to the project, while Kim is speculated to have received over 840 million won in profits from the land development scheme between April and August in 2021.
The prosecutors are expected to keep looking for any suspicious financial connections to Lee.
Testimonies from key figures in the land development scandal are expected to further corner the DPK leader. Nam Wook, a lawyer standing trial over embezzlement allegations, claimed on Monday that he heard that Lee held a stake in one of the private partners of the development project.
He also claimed that he delivered at least 400 million won to Lee in 2014, which he heard was used to fund his election campaign. Lee was reelected as Seongnam mayor that year. Nam gave the testimony during a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court which was held hours following his release from prison after his detention period expired.
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| Jeong Jin-sang, vice chief of staff to DPK chief Lee Jae-myung, heads to Seoul Central District Court to attend an arrest warrant hearing, Nov. 18. Yonhap |
As concerns grow within the opposition party that its leader will be the next target of the prosecutors' probe, some party members viewed that Lee should offer explanations about the allegations.
"I don't know, to be honest, whether Lee really has no connection (with the corruption scandal). I want to believe he is not involved," Rep. Cho Eung-cheon of the DPK said during a local radio interview.
He viewed that the court's decision on Saturday to grant the arrest warrant for Jeong after an intensive eight-hour hearing could mean that some of the allegations raised against the suspect could be true.
"Only Lee, Jeong and Kim know the truth. Maybe now is the time for Lee to offer explanations to some extent," he said. "He should at least offer an apology for causing turmoil due to the arrests of his two confidents. There should be some political gestures expressing regrets about this."
With the arrests of his confidants, it has become highly possible the prosecutors will summon Lee for questioning if they find evidence or testimonies linking him to the alleged illicit political funds.
It is unlikely, however, for the DPK leader to cooperate with the ongoing investigations. He has been flatly denying the allegations, which he views as "political retaliation" against the opposition party.
Shortly after Jeong was arrested, Lee wrote on Facebook that "the truth will never sink," claiming the innocence of Jeong, who he referred to as a "political companion." The lawmaker also vowed that he will concentrate on improving people's livelihoods despite the ongoing probe.
"Our party will continue to look after people's livelihoods and the economy while protecting peace and national security despite the prosecution's suppression," Lee said during a party meeting, Monday.
He also denounced the government for "wasting its power, which should be used in overcoming national crises, on mounting attacks against the opposition party."
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