'Seongnam FC Sponsorship Fund Allegation' Lee Jae-myung Appears Before Prosecution: "I Will Stand Firm and Win"

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is appearing at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Seongnam Branch in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 10th to undergo investigation related to the 'Seongnam FC Sponsorship Fund Allegation' case. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyung-min and Kim Dae-hyun] Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared at the prosecution on the 10th to be investigated as a suspect in the 'Seongnam FC Sponsorship Fund' case.

Lee arrived at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Seongnam Branch around 10:20 a.m. that day. After getting out of the car at the foot of the hill, he walked toward the entrance of the Seongnam Branch with about 30 Democratic Party lawmakers, including Floor Leader Park Hong-geun. He also waved his hand to supporters chanting his name.

Standing at the entrance, Lee took out a prepared paper and declared the current summons investigation as a "trap set by the inspection," "an unprecedented political oppression, the first summons of an opposition party leader in constitutional history." He added, "I cannot tolerate the fabrication of crimes against me and Seongnam city officials’ sincere efforts," and said, "I will confidently confront and overcome the political prosecution," before heading to the interrogation room.

Lee Jae-myung, Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, States Position Before Prosecutor's Summon Investigation
Photo by Kim Daehyun

The investigation is known to be conducted directly by Yoo Min-jong, head of the Criminal Division 3 at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Seongnam Branch, who will question Lee. Lee entered the interrogation room together with Park Gyun-taek, former Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office chief, who recently joined his legal team. Including the time for Lee’s side to review the statement, the investigation is expected to possibly extend past midnight. The 'Seongnam FC Sponsorship Fund' case involves Lee, who served as mayor of Seongnam and owner of the professional soccer club Seongnam FC from 2015 to 2017, allegedly securing 17 billion KRW in sponsorship funds from six companies including Doosan Construction, Naver, and Bundang CHA Hospital, and providing conveniences such as building permits and land use changes to resolve these companies’ issues. Lee was reported in 2018 by the Bareunmirae Party and others over these suspicions.

The prosecution views that Lee provided various conveniences to companies with pending issues in exchange for sponsorship funds to Seongnam FC for his political gain. They investigated under the charge of 'third-party bribery.' When indicting former Doosan Construction CEO Mr. A and former Seongnam City Strategic Promotion Team Leader Mr. B in September last year, the prosecution stated this in the indictment and named Lee as a co-conspirator with Mr. A and Mr. B.