Risk from Party Leader and Lee Jeong-geun... Prosecution Expands Investigation Net Across the Democratic Party

Prosecutor's flag hanging in front of the Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, Seoul
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution's simultaneous investigation of multiple figures affiliated with the Democratic Party of Korea has drawn significant attention from political and legal circles. Following the judicial risks involving party leader Lee Jae-myung, various cases triggered by former Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jeong-geun, who was arrested and indicted for bribery, have come under the prosecution's scrutiny. Effectively, the entire Democratic Party is surrounded by the prosecution.

The prosecution maintains that this is a "routine corruption investigation," while the Democratic Party protests, calling it "opposition party suppression," leading to a confrontation. Meanwhile, the investigation is expected to reach its peak within the next two weeks.

According to legal sources on the 28th, the prosecution plans to indict Jeong Jin-sang, Director of Political Coordination at the Democratic Party leader’s office, who was recently detained on bribery charges, by no later than the 11th of next month. The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Eom Hee-jun), which is investigating Jeong, recently applied for an extension of his detention period, which the court approved. Accordingly, Jeong’s detention has been extended until the 11th of next month.

Before indicting Jeong, the prosecution is expected to summon him frequently to question whether Lee Jae-myung was involved. Jeong was arrested on the 19th on charges including receiving 140 million KRW in bribes and promising to receive approximately 42.8 billion KRW from the Daejang-dong development profits in exchange for providing various conveniences to the so-called 'Daejang-dong group.' The prosecution suspects that Lee was involved in and informed about Jeong’s crimes. Investigations into Kim Yong, Deputy Director of the Democratic Research Institute, who was indicted earlier than Jeong, have also not been relaxed. Kim allegedly received 847 million KRW from the Daejang-dong group between April and August last year, around the time of the Democratic Party’s presidential primary, and there are suspicions that this money was used for Lee’s presidential campaign funds. The prosecution is reportedly determined to secure crucial testimonies from either Jeong or Kim within this year, as these statements are considered vital to proving Lee’s bribery and breach of trust charges.

The prosecution’s investigation into Democratic Party figures, triggered by former Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jeong-geun’s 'hundreds of millions in bribery' case, is also gaining momentum. Within the Democratic Party, it is difficult to estimate how many individuals will come under investigation, creating a tense atmosphere as they closely monitor the prosecution. Based on Lee Jeong-geun’s indictment, a so-called 'Lee Jeong-geun list' of individuals expected to face prosecution investigations is also circulating.

The prosecution is reportedly considering whether to take coercive measures against Democratic Party lawmaker Roh Woong-rae and deliberating on how to handle his case. Roh is suspected of receiving 60 million KRW in bribes and illegal political funds from businessman A, who is known to have given Lee Jeong-geun bribes worth over 1 billion KRW. During a search of Roh’s residence, the prosecution discovered 300 million KRW in cash bundles and is investigating the source of the money and its connection to the allegations.

Former Blue House Chief of Staff Noh Young-min is also under prosecution investigation on suspicion of requesting Lee Jeong-geun’s employment. After losing in the 21st general election in 2020, Lee worked as a full-time advisor at Korea Integrated Logistics, a CJ subsidiary, for one year with an annual salary of about 100 million KRW, recommended by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The prosecution suspects that the Blue House, including former Chief of Staff Noh, was involved in securing this employment.