Death of Lee Byung-chul: Opposition Demands "Truth Investigation" vs Ruling Party Calls It "Political Offensive"

Allegations Raised Over Lee Jae-myung's Lawyer Fee Payment... Found Dead on the 12th
People Power Party, Justice Party, and People Party Demand "Truth Investigation"
Ruling Party's Campaign Public Relations Team Calls It "Baseless Slander"
Until the Truth Is Revealed, Lee Remains the Subject of 'Fee Payment Recording Manipulation Allegations'

[Asia Economy Reporters Joo-yeon Oh, Hyun-joo Lee] On the 12th, the opposition parties unanimously called for a swift investigation into the truth after Mr. Lee Byung-chul, who first raised the 'allegation of attorney fee payment on behalf' against Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, was found dead. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party's election campaign committee called this a "political offensive" and demanded restraint from remarks and reports that seem to link this incident with candidate Lee.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, Kim Eun-hye, a member of the People Power Party and head of the Public Relations Division of the election campaign headquarters, said, "The late Yuhan-gi, the head of the headquarters, was someone who said he would never commit suicide," and asked, "How many more people must sacrifice for this fearful and cruel procession to stop?" She added, "Candidate Lee, please answer. Pretending not to know won't cover this up," urging, "Please disclose the truth."

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, also shared related articles on his Facebook on the same day, saying, "I don't know why such tragic things keep happening," and added, "I don't even expect Candidate Lee Jae-myung to say anything about this person. Let's watch and be angry."

Jang Hye-young, chief spokesperson of the Justice Party's election campaign committee, also pointed out in a briefing that "This is already the third sudden death of a person related to the suspicions surrounding Candidate Lee," calling it "a truly chilling and eerie coincidence."

Ahn Hye-jin, spokesperson for the People's Party Central Election Committee, also released a statement on the same day, saying, "The news of the death of a person related to Candidate Lee sends chills down my neck and gives me goosebumps," and added, "Even now, a thorough investigation must reveal all criminal acts in detail to restore the fallen justice and fairness and the dignity of our country, which has plummeted to the bottom."

In response to the flood of statements from opposition parties including the People Power Party, Justice Party, and People's Party regarding Mr. Lee's death, the Democratic Party of Korea stated, "Candidate Lee has no relation to the deceased." In particular, they strongly criticized the People Power Party, calling their claims "matador-like baseless accusations."

The Democratic Party's election campaign committee's Public Relations Division said in a statement, "The People Power Party is making baseless accusations as if they have been waiting for the death of the late Lee Byung-chul. The claims by the People Power Party are worthless."

The Public Relations Division urged, "We ask that any political offensives be restrained until the exact cause of death is revealed," and added, "We hope the judicial authorities will promptly and thoroughly investigate the cause of death to eliminate any suspicions."

Furthermore, they requested the media to be cautious when reporting, stating, "The deceased was reported last year for making false claims about Candidate Lee regarding the 'allegation of attorney fee payment on behalf,' and although the judicial authorities are already investigating the matter, the news is being reported as 'the death of the whistleblower of the attorney fee payment allegation.' Until the substantive truth is revealed, Mr. Lee is a party to the 'allegation of manipulated payment recordings,' so please be careful when writing articles."

Meanwhile, Mr. Lee was the person who, in 2018, reported to the pro-Moon Jae-in group 'Awakened Citizens Solidarity Party' a related recording claiming that Candidate Lee gave 2 billion KRW in cash and stocks as fees to a certain lawyer appointed as his defense counsel in a case involving violations of the Public Official Election Act. The police are currently investigating the circumstances of his death.