'Lee Jae-myung Attendance' Scene, Support Groups and Opponents Gather at Seongnam District Prosecutors' Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] On the morning of the 10th, when Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was to undergo his first prosecution summons investigation over the 'Seongnam FC suspicion,' the area near the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Seongnam Branch in Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, became a chaotic scene as both supporters and opponents of Lee gathered.

Lee's supporters claimed, "The prosecution is oppressing Lee," while the opposition shouted, "He should face the prosecution investigation confidently and be punished."

Although Lee's summons investigation began at 10:30 a.m. that day, crowds started gathering 3 to 4 hours earlier despite subzero temperatures. Citizens participating in the rally hosted by the Democratic Citizens Candlelight Solidarity, a Lee supporter group, held signs saying "We are Lee Jae-myung" and blue balloons, taking their places in front of the main gate of the Seongnam Branch.

Seon Myeonghwa (53, female), who lives in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, arrived in front of the Seongnam Branch around 9 a.m. to support Lee. She said, "I work, but I told my boss 'I will take the day off today.' The prosecution should investigate without sanctuary, but they are conducting a targeted investigation only against Lee. There is no investigation at all into President Yoon Seok-yeol's side," she lamented.

The Patriotic Patrol Team and the New Liberal Solidarity, who hosted the rally condemning Lee, took positions on the opposite side of Lee's supporters along the 12-lane road in front of the Seongnam Branch. Wearing red scarves and holding signs such as "Suspect Lee Jae-myung Prosecution Appearance," they shouted slogans like "Arrest Lee Jae-myung."

Jo Nam-gim (63, male), residing in Huijeong-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, arrived around 8 a.m. to attend the anti-Lee rally. He said, "Lee should properly undergo investigation so that law and justice can prevail. The prosecution has conducted the investigation after great effort, and today’s first investigation on numerous charges seems very significant."

There was a situation where the opposition tried to hang a banner in front of Lee's supporters, leading to an argument, but no major clashes occurred due to police and security personnel control. The Democratic Citizens Candlelight Solidarity appealed to participants via broadcast, saying, "YouTubers on the crosswalk, please move to the outside. When Lee enters later, do not cross the Seongnam Branch gate. Keep the decibel level at 90, and please take down all banners."

The 'Seongnam FC sponsorship' suspicion involves allegations that when Lee was mayor of Seongnam and the club owner of Seongnam FC, he secured sponsorship funds amounting to hundreds of millions to billions of won from companies in exchange for resolving corporate issues.