Lee Jun-seok: "Kwaksangdo's Son's '5 Billion Won Severance Pay' Is a Different Issue from Jang Je-won's Son's Misconduct"

"Jang Je-won, Concludes with Taking Moral Responsibility"

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, stated that the controversy surrounding the son of party member Jang Je-won and the controversy over the 5 billion KRW retirement pay of the son of independent lawmaker Kwak Sang-do (former People Power Party) are of different natures, and repeatedly urged Kwak to resign from his parliamentary seat.

In an interview on the 28th with YTN Radio's 'Hwang Bo-seon's Start of a New Morning,' Lee said, "Lawmaker Jang did not instruct or have prior knowledge of his son's delinquent behavior," adding, "I believe it can be resolved at the level where Lawmaker Jang takes moral responsibility."

Jang's son, rapper Noel (real name Jang Yong-jun), was booked on the 18th for driving under the influence without a license and assaulting a police officer who requested a breathalyzer test. Noel was previously prosecuted last year for drunk driving and attempting to switch drivers, for which he received a suspended sentence. Today (28th), Lawmaker Jang resigned from his position as the general director of the Yoon Seok-yeol campaign.

Lee then pressured Lawmaker Kwak to resign over the issue of Kwak's son receiving 5 billion KRW in retirement pay from Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management (Hwacheon Daeyu), which is suspected of preferential treatment in the Daejang-dong development project in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province.

Lee said, "The case involving Lawmaker Kwak is different from the issue with Lawmaker Jang's son. No citizen would believe that Lawmaker Kwak's son received 5 billion KRW as compensation for an industrial accident," adding, "The public will demand a thorough investigation into what influence Lawmaker Kwak may have had."

He continued, "Since Lawmaker Kwak chose to leave the party, disciplinary procedures have become difficult, but the party will respond strictly," and "Now that Lawmaker Kwak has left the party, we have no choice but to mention his parliamentary status."

Lee also urged on Facebook the previous day (27th), saying, "The retirement pay issue of Lawmaker Kwak's son cannot be explained as compensation for an industrial accident," and "For the greater cause of regime change, I demand that Lawmaker Kwak make additional statements beyond just leaving the party."

Meanwhile, Kwak's son, Mr. Kwak, is reported to have received 5 billion KRW in retirement pay from Hwacheon Daeyu. He joined Hwacheon Daeyu in June 2015, worked in the compensation team at the deputy manager level, and resigned in March this year after about six years of service. Hwacheon Daeyu explained that the retirement pay given to Mr. Kwak was in the nature of consolation money due to an industrial accident.