Prosecutors Forgo Holiday for Reinforced Investigation of Lee Jae-myung... 'Perjury Coaching' Expected to Be Prosecuted First

The prosecution is reportedly intensifying its supplementary investigation into the allegations against Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, without taking a break even during the Chuseok holiday, drawing attention to his future course of action. On the 27th of last month, the court dismissed the arrest warrant for Lee, and it is known that the prosecution is considering proceeding with a non-custodial indictment rather than reapplying for the warrant. There is also speculation that they will prioritize prosecuting the 'perjury coaching' charge, which was substantiated during the warrant hearing.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who has been indicted on suspicion of preferential treatment in the Baekhyun-dong development project and involvement in Ssangbangwool's North Korea remittance allegations, is attending the pre-arrest detention hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 26th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

According to the legal community on the 3rd, prosecutors from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office continued to work normally during the Chuseok holiday, reinforcing their investigation into the Baekhyeon-dong development preferential treatment and Ssangbangwool Group's alleged North Korea remittance, with Lee as the focal point. They analyzed the reasons for the dismissal of Lee's warrant and organized the investigative content that needed supplementation. There is a possibility of additional raids or summons of related parties this week. A prosecution official stated, "Whether or not an arrest is made does not necessarily reflect the investigation results," adding, "We plan to proceed with the investigation steadily according to judicial procedures."

There is also a possibility that Lee will be prosecuted first for the 'perjury coaching' charge. Since sufficient evidence has already been secured and the charge was deemed substantiated during the warrant hearing, the prosecution may first bring the perjury coaching case to trial and focus on the Baekhyeon-dong development preferential treatment and North Korea remittance investigations. The perjury coaching charge involves Lee allegedly contacting Kim Jin-seong, who was the secretary to former Seongnam Mayor Kim Byung-ryang in December 2018, and requesting him to give false testimony favorable to Lee in a trial concerning the public official election law violation charge related to Lee's 'impersonation of a prosecutor' incident. Regarding this, Yoo Chang-hoon, the chief judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, judged that "the charges appear to be substantiated."

The prosecution's decision to indict means that Lee will face three additional trials. Lee is currently on trial for violations of the Public Official Election Act, development corruption related to Daejang-dong and Wirye New Town, and allegations of illegal donations to Seongnam FC. Adding trials for the Baekhyeon-dong development preferential treatment, North Korea remittance, and perjury coaching cases will increase Lee's burden. Once all trials complete the preparatory hearing stage and enter the main trial phase, where the defendant must attend, Lee may be tied up with court schedules to the extent that it becomes difficult to properly perform his duties as party leader, a so-called 'court risk.' Due to this issue, Lee's side is expected to strongly clash with the prosecution over trial schedules and attendance issues starting from the preparatory hearing stage.