Lee Jae-myung on Police Search: "A Laughable Matter... Police Acting Like Prosecutors"

Lee Jae-myung, the General Election Campaign Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, who ran in the by-election for the National Assembly member of Gyeyang-eul, Incheon, greeted citizens on the 15th at Incheon Grand Park in Namdong-gu, Incheon.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lee Gye-hwa] Lee Jae-myung, the general election campaign committee chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea running in the Incheon Gyeyang-eul by-election, criticized the police's full-scale investigation into him, saying, "It seems the police are doing the same behavior that the prosecution used to do," and called it "something that would make a cow laugh."

On the 17th, in an interview with JTBC, Chairman Lee said, "It is something that would make a sleeping cow burst out laughing. It is something that would make a cow laugh," adding, "The People Power Party filed complaints, and because of their commissioned complaints, investigations are being conducted. They say they are being investigated and play it up in the media. It seems the police are doing the same behavior that the prosecution used to do."

On the same day, the Bundang Police Station in Gyeonggi Province conducted a search and seizure of Doosan Construction and Seongnam FC in connection with Chairman Lee Jae-myung's 'Seongnam FC sponsorship fund suspicion.'

Regarding the People Power Party's criticism that his candidacy in the by-election is a 'shield candidacy' to avoid judicial processing, Chairman Lee said, "If the People Power Party pushes for a law revision to ease the parliamentary immunity of members of the National Assembly, we have no reason to oppose it," adding, "But I can assure you that the People Power Party will not do it as a party resolution. That is impossible. They are a group that speaks with double standards."

He also addressed the recent sexual misconduct issues within his party, stating, "Of course, it was absolutely wrong, and from the perspective of our people's standards, it is a matter that must be apologized for unconditionally and thoroughly prevented from recurring." He then criticized, "The People Power Party, which has much more serious problems such as sexual bribery and sexual assault, should not talk about that."

However, Chairman Lee refrained from commenting on the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, which marked its first week in office. He said, "From the perspective of a competing opponent, it is still a bit early to evaluate whether they have done well or not," and added, "I hope they do well."