Democratic Party Launches Counterattack Over Kwak Sang-do's Son's '5 Billion Won Retirement Pay'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] On the 26th, the Democratic Party of Korea continued its offensive regarding reports that Gwak Sang-do, a member of the People Power Party, received 5 billion won as severance pay from Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management. In particular, the camp of Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, launched a counterattack in an attempt to change the situation.

Woo Won-sik, chairman of Lee Jae-myung’s election countermeasures committee, stated on his Facebook that “If the severance pay is indeed as Hwacheon Daeyu’s CEO explained, it is truly the ultimate ‘God’s workplace.’ Hiring Gwak, a former senior secretary for civil affairs’ son, at such a ‘God’s workplace’ itself is a special favor. A thorough investigation is needed to find out who that ‘God’ is and who the former employees and their families of Hwacheon Daeyu are.”

An Min-seok, head of the camp’s general special advisory group, also wrote on Facebook, “The 5 billion won to Gwak’s son is either a quid pro quo for protecting construction forces for years or dividends from Hwacheon Daeyu’s investment,” emphasizing, “The baseless attacks against Governor Lee have lost momentum and are practically over. The arrow of suspicion regarding the Daejang-dong corruption scandal has clearly shifted to the People Power Party.”

Kim Byung-wook, head of Lee Jae-myung’s Daejang-dong task force, said, “It is clear that the Daejang-dong project is a ‘People Power Party gate.’ It must be investigated thoroughly and swiftly,” urging, “There must be a clear investigation into whether the 5 billion won severance pay to Gwak’s son constitutes a bribe from a third party.”

Criticism of Gwak also continued both inside and outside the party. Former Minister of Justice and presidential candidate Chu Mi-ae raised her voice, saying, “Gwak Sang-do’s enemy is Gwak Sang-do himself,” and “The investigation must be conducted thoroughly and properly according to his usual philosophy and conviction. Privilege, unfairness, and illegality must be properly investigated.”

Kim Yong-min, a Supreme Council member, also emphasized on Facebook, “The reason the then Grand National Party wanted to privatize the Daejang-dong development was exactly this. The severance pay to Gwak’s son is just the tip of the iceberg,” adding, “It must be clarified whether it was a direct investment or a bribe.”