Ruling and Opposition Parties Intensify Dispute Over Death of Former Secretary to Lee Jae-myung

6-Page Will Discovered, Expressing Inner Feelings

The ruling and opposition parties are intensifying their blame game over the recent discovery of a close aide to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, found dead. The People Power Party has highlighted the 'Lee Jae-myung responsibility theory,' while the Democratic Party condemned it as a tragedy caused by the prosecution's excessive investigation.

Earlier on the 9th, Jeon, who served as Lee's first chief secretary during his tenure as governor of Gyeonggi Province, was found dead at his home in Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province. Jeon worked with Lee in Seongnam City and Gyeonggi Province and served as acting president of the Gyeonggi Housing Corporation (GH) following the resignation of former GH President Lee Heon-wook, retiring at the end of December last year.

Before and after his retirement, he was investigated once by the prosecution regarding allegations of illegal donations to Seongnam FC. A six-page suicide note written by Jeon reportedly expressed his feelings, stating, "I only worked hard, but I am unfairly targeted by the prosecution's investigation."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Upon hearing the tragic news, the Democratic Party criticized the prosecution's coercive investigation. Kim Eui-gyeom, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a briefing on the afternoon of the 10th, "It has been confirmed through testimonies from the bereaved family and acquaintances that the prosecution persistently investigated the deceased," adding, "This tragedy can only be explained by coercive and fabricated investigations."

On the other hand, the People Power Party argued that the prosecution's investigation was not the cause of the extreme choice and raised the 'Lee Jae-myung responsibility theory.' On the same day, Kwon Seong-dong, a member of the People Power Party, pointed out on his Facebook, "There have been mysterious deaths related to various criminal allegations against Lee Jae-myung. This is already the fifth."

He continued, "Lee Jae-myung excuses that the cause of death is not himself but excessive investigations," and argued, "Regarding Jeon, there was only one witness investigation. The investigation could never be the cause of the extreme choice." He also said, "If the investigation is the cause as Lee claims, then who is the cause of that investigation? It is none other than Lee himself," criticizing, "Now Lee is even caught in his own lies."

Lawmaker Kwon raised his voice, saying, "Lee Jae-myung should quit not only as party leader but also from politics altogether," and added, "Lee Jae-myung's politics itself is harmful and tragic."

Meanwhile, Lee canceled his schedule abruptly on the afternoon of the 10th to pay respects at Jeon's funeral. At the Supreme Council meeting held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province, on the morning of the same day, Lee expressed his condolences, saying, "Among the public officials I have met, he was the most honest, diligent, devoted, and competent public servant who ended his own life," and added, "How difficult it must have been for his proud public service achievements to be denied by the prosecution's fabrication and continuous pressure investigations."