[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] On the 10th, the People Power Party continued its offensive against Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, after Jeong Jin-sang, chief political coordinator of Lee’s office and a close aide, was indicted and detained on charges including bribery. They said, "He must face the judgment of the law" and "The enemy of the Democratic Party is Lee Jae-myung."
Yang Geum-hee, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated in a commentary that day, "Jeong Jin-sang, chief political coordinator of the party leader’s office, was indicted and detained on charges of receiving bribes amounting to around 200 million won and promising bribes totaling 42.8 billion won," and criticized, "Lee repeated the tiresome political repression repertoire of 'endless attacks on Lee Jae-myung' and 'divide-and-conquer tactics to destroy the opposition party.'"
Yang added, "This is merely an investigation into criminal allegations Lee was involved in the past, so it is incomprehensible why the investigation is said to ruin people’s livelihoods and suffocate democracy," and claimed, "The enemy attacking Lee Jae-myung and destroying the Democratic Party is none other than the past Lee Jae-myung himself." He emphasized, "No matter how much one claims political retaliation, public suspicion, the Democratic Party’s confusion, and the crimes committed do not disappear," and "The most urgent task demanded by the people from Lee is to thoroughly clarify the suspicions against him."
Jang Dong-hyuk, floor spokesperson, also criticized in a commentary that day, "Following the indictment and detention of former deputy director Kim Yong of the Democratic Research Institute, the truth of the 'Daejang-dong Gate' is knocking on Lee Jae-myung’s door." Regarding Lee’s Facebook post immediately after Jeong’s indictment saying, "I will fight to the end with the people and party members," Jang said, "Not satisfied with 169 members of the National Assembly, he now seems to be mobilizing all party members and citizens for his own shield." Jang further argued, "The direction Lee should boldly take is not people’s livelihoods and democracy but rightful legal judgment," and "That would be an apology for the damage caused to people’s livelihoods and democracy so far and at least a minimum of conscience."
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1 indicted and detained Jeong the previous day on charges including bribery under the Special Act. Jeong is accused of receiving a total of 24 million won in money and goods seven times from Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, as compensation for providing convenience in various project promotions while serving as Seongnam City Policy Secretary and Gyeonggi Province Policy Director from February 2013 to October 2020.
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