Criticism of Lee Jae-myung, Democratic Party Leader's Attitude Toward Prosecutor Investigation
[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] Jeong Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is facing charges of third-party bribery related to the 'Seongnam FC' case, saying, "One crafty lawyer is clouding the entire politics of the Republic of Korea."
On the morning of the 12th, Jeong made these remarks at the party's emergency response meeting held at the National Assembly, stating, "I hope the Democratic Party does not stir up muddy waters together to blind the eyes of the people."
He referred to media reports that Lee submitted a prepared written statement instead of answering during the prosecution's investigation on the 10th, saying, "Lee surrounded himself with Democratic Party lawmakers like a screen and stood at the prosecution's photo line to act as a democratic fighter, but once inside the investigation room, he acted like a crafty lawyer trying to escape the law," adding, "He effectively exercised the right to remain silent during the prosecution's investigation and then boasted that the truth would eventually be revealed in court."
Jeong also targeted Lee for posting on his Facebook on November 10, 2016, about the Park Geun-hye administration receiving illegal donations from companies through the Mir and K-Sports Foundations, stating, "If a mayor used his authority to extort even hundreds of millions or thousands of millions of won from local businesses, he should be immediately arrested."
He said, "What is different between the Mir and K-Sports Foundations and the Seongnam FC suspicion? Was it right then and wrong now?" He added, "During his time as mayor of Seongnam, Lee received about 18.2 billion won in sponsorship funds from six local companies with complaints in Seongnam City to raise operating funds for Seongnam FC and gave special favors. When Doosan Construction donated 5 billion won, the hospital site was changed to commercial land, and the floor area ratio jumped from 250% to 670%, which clearly constitutes third-party bribery."
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