[2023 Seollal Holiday Table Politics]
Prosecution Expected to Summon Each Case... Lee Faces Head-on Breakthrough
"Judicial Risk Until General Election" vs "Prosecution Also Burdensome to Long-term Scars"
[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The second prosecution summons within a month?poison or medicine?
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared before the prosecution on the 10th regarding allegations of donations to Seongnam FC, and is scheduled to be summoned again on the 28th for suspicions related to the Wirye and Daejang-dong development corruption cases. This marks his second appearance within just three weeks.
With the prosecution's summons coming just before Lunar New Year, the 'Lee Jae-myung judicial risk' has inevitably become a topic at the holiday table. Given the prosecution's recent actions, it appears they will summon and investigate Lee on each allegation, making it highly likely that 2024 will be dominated by the 'Lee Jae-myung judicial political climate.'
After notifying Lee of the summons on the 28th, the prosecution indicated that the scope of investigation is substantial and has hinted at a second summons. Beyond the Seongnam FC donation allegations and the Daejang-dong case, further prosecution issues such as the alleged payment of lawyer fees by Ssangbangwool are expected to follow. The People Power Party has already launched fierce attacks on Lee and former Ssangbangwool Group Chairman Kim Sung-tae over various suspicions. Kim is suspected of having paid legal fees for Lee’s election law violation case.
On the 20th, Policy Committee Chairperson Sung Il-jong stated at a party floor meeting, "Lee is using the political frame of 'eliminating political rivals' to cover up his own corruption and wrongdoing," and challenged, "What about Kim Sung-tae, chairman of Ssangbangwool, allegedly giving millions of dollars to North Korea in connection with Gyeonggi Province?" Sung emphasized, "The suspicion of paying lawyer fees is also an issue raised by the Democratic Party. The public is holding Lee accountable for the plans and decisions he made, including Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong. If he is confident, he should just explain."
Democrats in a bind... Some worry "corruption image will be reinforced until the general election"
Within the Democratic Party, there are concerns that if prosecution investigations continue on each allegation through the 2024 general election, Lee’s negative image will solidify. The biggest worry is that Lee’s judicial risks will spread to the entire party. A Democratic lawmaker not affiliated with any faction expressed concern, saying, "If the year is filled with a judicial political climate centered on Lee, it could become a burden for the party ahead of next year’s election." While responses will depend on ongoing prosecution investigations, there is a consensus on the need to prepare various exit strategies.
However, as comprehensive investigations targeting not only Lee but also the previous administration seem to be intensifying, voices calling for 'unity' are emerging within the party. Former President Moon Jae-in, who exchanged New Year greetings with Lee on the 2nd at Pyeongsan Village in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, reportedly emphasized the 'retreat of democracy' and expressed hope that the Democratic Party, led by Lee, would do its best to resolve the livelihood economy.
On the same day, lawmaker Woo Sang-ho appeared on SBS Radio and responded to factional lawmakers advocating for 'separate responses,' saying, "The prosecution is investigating because Lee is the Democratic Party leader; if he were not, they wouldn’t harass him this much." Woo added, "The prosecution is helping the People Power Party by tarnishing the Democratic Party’s image to ensure their victory in the general election. Can you separate Lee Jae-myung the person from Lee Jae-myung the leader? That’s impossible. They’re basically telling him to quit, but how can he quit as party leader now?"
Between 'predictable' and 'unexpected,' what is the twist?
Amid the predictable scenario, recent attention has focused on evaluations of Lee. Despite knowing that he would be a topic at the Lunar New Year table, he boldly declared he would attend the prosecution summons, earning praise even from non-Lee factions. Especially mindful of criticisms from the non-Lee faction that the party should not be involved, this time he announced he would attend accompanied only by his lawyer, which is seen as having calmed internal discord. During his previous prosecution appearance, about 40 lawmakers, including party leadership, accompanied him.
Non-Lee faction lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon said on CBS Radio on the 19th, "It’s natural to respond separately between the party and the leader," but added, "Lee’s decision to attend alone with one lawyer on the 28th is a very good one." Cho praised this as "a dignified stance," saying, "Although the opposition may protest and cause hardship, that image will actually make Lee’s claims seem more sincere."
Some within the party suggest that the more the prosecution summons Lee repeatedly and the more Lee responds by attending each time, the less likely the situation will unfold as the government, ruling party, and prosecution desire. When the prosecution first summoned Lee over the Seongnam FC donation allegations and he complied, there was nothing substantial to prove his guilt, making the prosecution’s case seem forced. A source close to Lee said, "It feels like there is no prearranged scenario," adding, "Although they say they will summon him every month, if he is later summoned as a witness rather than a suspect, the level of the case will drop significantly." The longer the 'smearing' continues, the more the opposition will perceive it as a mere 'political rival elimination,' which will become a burden.
"I have done nothing wrong, but since they ask me to come again, I will go"
Responding to the second prosecution summons on the 18th, Lee said just that. If the prosecution continues its investigation as if 'imposing guilt where there is none,' he seems ready to appear before the prosecution ten or even a hundred times. While the Democratic Party leadership strongly opposes the Yoon Seok-youl government and prosecution’s attempt to humiliate the leader of the main opposition party by putting him on the photo line as if he were guilty, they also see significance in Lee’s 'direct confrontation.'
Floor Leader Park Hong-geun told reporters on the 19th, "It is clear that this is an unfair and ruthless retaliatory and planned investigation. They are trying to find any excuse by any means." He criticized, "They are conducting an 'Indian rain dance' style investigation hoping something will come out." He added, "For the remaining cases, including the Seongnam FC case, there seems to be no possibility of a warrant request, but the prosecution’s internal atmosphere is that they can indict. How ridiculous is that? They are pre-deciding to indict before even summoning the person and trying to fit the pieces together."
Park defended Lee’s prosecution attendance, saying, "If Lee does not attend, they will claim he is avoiding and use that to justify a warrant request to secure their legitimacy. In that sense, although it is unfair and frustrating, he will not give them any openings or excuses."
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