[Lee Jun-seok Disciplinary Action] Police Likely to Accelerate Investigation into Sexual Misconduct Allegations

CEO Kim Sung-jin's Post-Incarceration Investigation to Determine Whether to Summon Lee

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The sexual misconduct allegations against Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, raised by the YouTube channel ‘Garosero Research Institute (Gaseyeon),’ are also under investigation by the police. Since the People Power Party Ethics Committee has imposed a severe disciplinary action of a six-month suspension of party membership on Lee, there is a prevailing expectation that the police investigation will accelerate.

The Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is currently investigating the case in which Gaseyeon filed a complaint against Lee last December on charges including bribery solicitation. Although Gaseyeon initially submitted the complaint to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, the prosecution transferred the case to the police, stating it was not subject to direct investigation. The core of the complaint is that Lee received sexual favors and money from Kim Sung-jin, CEO of iKist, under the pretext of mediating with former President Park Geun-hye in 2013.

According to a compilation of reports as of the 8th, the investigation into Lee is expected to proceed on three fronts: ▲the prostitution charge that Lee received sexual favors from CEO Kim ▲the bribery solicitation charge that Lee arranged a meeting between CEO Kim and former President Park in exchange for sexual favors ▲and the charge of evidence tampering by coercing witness Jang, who raised the sexual misconduct allegations, through Kim Cheol-geun, the party leader’s political secretary. However, it is known that the police are experiencing considerable confusion regarding the direction of the case, as the statute of limitations for prostitution and bribery solicitation charges, which are five and seven years respectively, may have expired.

In particular, regarding the prostitution and bribery solicitation charges, CEO Kim reportedly testified in a recent police investigation that he provided sexual favors a total of 20 times from 2013 to 2016. While the prostitution charge is likely to be time-barred, if it is proven that during this period Lee emphasized his close relationship with former President Park to CEO Kim, the bribery solicitation charge could be established, according to analysis.

The police are reportedly planning to continue additional questioning of CEO Kim as a witness until the end of this month. Separately from this case, CEO Kim is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence for fraud. After completing the in-prison investigation of CEO Kim, the police will decide whether to summon Lee. If the police prove Lee’s charges and refer the case to the prosecution, the Ethics Committee’s decision could gain legitimacy; however, if the case is closed without charges, Lee may gain grounds to pursue a political comeback in the future.