Lee "Will fulfill my calling without bending to any hardship"
Kim Ki-hyun "Suspect in power-driven construction corruption crime"
Prosecutors' search prompts opposition "Start of opposition suppression," political climate chills rapidly
"I believe that my mission in this life is to straighten out a twisted world. I will fulfill my mission without bending to any hardship. I willingly become Sisyphus."
On the 17th, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who appeared before the prosecution for the fourth time since last year's presidential election, likened himself to 'Sisyphus' and made this statement. He said that the prosecution's repeated summonses?from the Seongnam FC allegations, the Wirye and Daejang-dong development corruption suspicions, to the recent Baekhyeon-dong development preferential treatment allegations?are attempts to cover up the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's mismanagement and incompetence. This was interpreted as his resolve not to succumb to political prosecution, even if he must endure the endless punishment of Sisyphus.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is suspected of receiving special favors in the Baekhyeon-dong development, is appearing at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 17th for investigation. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
The ruling party strongly criticized this, calling it "a shameless act of twisting the narrative to portray oneself as a victim." On the same day, the prosecution conducted raids on the residences of Democratic Party presidential campaign officials, signaling that the investigation drive will intensify, and the political climate is expected to cool rapidly ahead of the September regular National Assembly session.
Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, criticized Lee during the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in the afternoon, saying, "The suspect of a power-driven construction corruption crime appears as if he is heroically returning while attending the prosecution." He added, "The sight of a corruption suspect staging a melodrama in front of the prosecution office, talking about sacrifice, offerings, and oppression, leaves sensible citizens aghast."
Kim said, "The essence of this case is a large-scale construction development corruption involving a public-private partnership. If he was unaware of the corruption, he is an incompetent leader; if he knew, he is the worst power-driven construction corruption mastermind since Dangun, and his actions could warrant a life sentence." He added, "With the confidence to be summoned ten times, I hope he sincerely participates in today's investigation."
Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
On the morning of the same day, Lee appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and read a prepared statement, evaluating the significance of his fourth summons by saying, "They are trying to cover up the incompetence and political failure of the Yoon administration by making me a sacrificial lamb."
Lee emphasized his innocence, stating, "I have never taken a single penny of personal gain. If there had been even the slightest corruption, I would have already been crushed to dust by hundreds of raids and political oppression over more than ten years." He mentioned 'Sisyphus,' saying, "I will respond to summonses not just ten times but a hundred times with pride."
Sisyphus is a figure in Greek mythology who was punished by the gods for deceiving them by being forced to push a huge boulder up a mountain. When the boulder reaches the top, it rolls back down the other side, and he must push it up again, an endless cycle of punishment. Lee likened the continuous prosecution summonses against him to the 'absurd' situation of Sisyphus.
Sisyphus was referenced by former President Kim Dae-jung during a press conference for his candidacy in the 1970 New Democratic Party presidential primary. At that time, he said, "I will fight like the myth of Sisyphus, who knows no despair, with a sense of mission and conviction for the victory of democracy." Since then, the political sphere has often cited this to emphasize a 'sense of mission' for the people. Lee's mention of Sisyphus can be interpreted in the same context.
However, the People Power Party immediately called it "shameless." Kang Min-guk, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a statement, "Today, Lee mentioned the Greek myth of 'Sisyphus' as if the investigation against him were absurd. Does he know that Sisyphus was originally greedy and fond of deceit? Sisyphus, who resembles Lee, received endless punishment, and the outcome will be the same."
Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is under suspicion of preferential treatment in the Baekhyeon-dong development, is appearing at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 17th for investigation. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
Although the August extraordinary session of the National Assembly began on the 16th, the prosecution's intensified investigation into Lee is likely to plunge the Assembly into political strife rather than legislative activity. If a motion for arrest is submitted during the September regular session, there is a high possibility of controversy over the vote.
On the same day, the Democratic Party's Committee for Countermeasures Against Prosecution's Dictatorial Political Oppression issued a statement in the afternoon, declaring they would "respond to the prosecution's barbaric behavior" following the raids on presidential campaign officials.
The prosecution conducted raids on the residences of officials from Lee's presidential campaign earlier that morning. The committee said, "In line with Lee's summons, an all-out opposition suppression operation has begun. In addition to raiding the residences of Democratic Party campaign officials, prosecutors and investigators stormed the residence of a former secretary of former party leader Song Young-gil at dawn as if waging war." They added, "The former secretary was a junior secretary in her 20s during the 2021 party convention, responsible for general affairs. How much could a junior secretary know about the affairs among lawmakers that they would raid her residence two years later?" They criticized, "This signals that all Democratic Party aides and staff, even the lowest-level workers, can be raided at any time." They concluded, "This heinous opposition suppression will eventually come to an end."
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