Prosecutors Conduct Search and Seizure at Election Commission Over Lee Jae-myung's 'Split Donation Suspicion'

Kim Seong-tae, Former Chairman of Ssangbangwool, Testifies to 150 Million Won Donation in Trial

The prosecution conducted a search and seizure at the National Election Commission in connection with allegations that former Ssangbangwool Group Chairman Kim Seong-tae made 'split donations' to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

On the afternoon of the 8th, when the prosecution conducted a search and seizure of the Central Election Commission in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, regarding allegations that former Ssangbangwool Group Chairman Kim Seong-tae made large split donations to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Criminal Division 6 of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-nam) sent prosecutors and investigators to the National Election Commission in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province on the 8th to secure related materials such as the donor list and account details for Lee, who was a Democratic Party presidential primary candidate in 2021.

Former Chairman Kim appeared as a prosecution witness at the 43rd trial on bribery charges against former Gyeonggi Province Peace Deputy Governor Lee Hwa-young held on the 22nd of last month, stating, "I donated about 150 million won to Lee's side during the Democratic Party presidential primary."

Kim testified, "Deputy Governor Lee asked me, 'Wouldn't it look better if a significantly large amount of donations were gathered for Lee on the first day of the primary?' so I donated under the names of several employees and others."

Under the Political Funds Act, the maximum amount a donor can contribute to a presidential primary candidate's campaign is 10 million won. If donations are split under other people's names, it may constitute a violation of the Political Funds Act.

During his testimony, former Chairman Kim also revealed that he donated tens of millions of won when Lee ran in the 2018 Gyeonggi Province governor primary. However, the prosecution's search and seizure on this day is known to have been conducted only in relation to the donations made during the presidential election.