Prosecutors Conduct Search and Seizure at Gyeonggi Provincial Office Over Lee Jae-myung's Corporate Card Misuse Allegations

The prosecution investigating allegations of 'misuse of corporate cards' related to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has initiated a forced investigation.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 29th of last month. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The Public Investigation Division of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Dong-hee) sent prosecutors and investigators to the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office on the morning of the 4th to secure related materials.

Earlier, the prosecution had been investigating after receiving information related to Lee from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, which reviewed the report filed by whistleblower Jo Myung-hyun regarding this case. Jo reported, "The accused (Lee Jae-myung) abused his position and authority as Governor of Gyeonggi Province and violated related laws by embezzling or ordering embezzlement of corporate cards meant for official duties for personal use, or by knowingly overlooking such embezzlement to promote the interests of his spouse," and requested an investigation into Lee.

He also revealed last year that Lee's spouse, Kim Hye-kyung, and Bae Mo, a level 5 special staff member in the General Affairs Division of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government, privately misused the provincial government’s corporate cards. Following this revelation, the prosecution and police are investigating Kim and others on charges of breach of trust in the course of duty.