Hampyeong Social Groups Hold Rally in Front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Calling for the Arrest and Indictment of County Governor Lee Sang-ik

The Combat Airfield Enforcement Lee Sang-ik Military Supply Dismissal Struggle Headquarters (hereinafter referred to as the Struggle Headquarters) held a rally in front of the Seoul Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 7th, demanding the arrest and prosecution of Lee Sang-ik, former mayor of Hampyeong County, Jeonnam, who was sent to the prosecution on charges of bribery for receiving five custom-made suits worth about 10 million won from a construction contractor.

They stated, "It has been about a year since the Lee Sang-ik mayor case was transferred from the police to the prosecution, and more than three years since the incident occurred, yet the Mokpo branch of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office is neglecting its duties by delaying the case," and also demanded an inspection of the Mokpo branch.

This case arose when Lee Sang-ik, mayor of Hampyeong County, was elected in a by-election in 2020, and it became known that a construction contractor, aiming to win public construction contracts, paid for five suits worth about 10 million won on his behalf.

The Struggle Headquarters pointed out, "The Jeonnam Police Agency secured ledgers and testimonies related to this and sent them to the prosecution, but it is difficult to understand why the Mokpo branch has not processed the case for a year on such a simple matter."

They continued, "Despite receiving a petition signed by more than 500 of the 30,000 residents of Hampyeong County requesting arrest and prosecution, conducting daily one-person protests for over two months, and holding weekly rallies urging prosecution, the Mokpo branch repeatedly refused residents' requests for meetings," expressing their frustration.

The Struggle Headquarters claimed, "Ignoring the voluntary efforts of residents to punish corruption by elected officials and delaying case processing can only be explained as neglect of duty."

They also raised suspicions regarding the recently controversial broker, Mr. Sung Mo, and Mayor Lee, urging a thorough investigation.

The Struggle Headquarters emphasized, "Almost no Hampyeong residents believe that Mayor Lee, who is under investigation not only for the suit bribery case but also for his wife's money envelope case and the abuse of power case involving changing the golf course entrance to benefit his associates, is unrelated to the broker. The broker case is not a simple corruption case but a serious incident that undermines the reason for local autonomy and the trust in the judicial system."

They added, "Suspicions are growing as to whether there is a dark background behind the year-long delay in the transferred case," and shouted, "The Supreme Prosecutors' Office must sincerely reflect on whether it has properly inspected and supervised, and if there are faults, urgently take corrective measures."

Meanwhile, a prosecutor investigator from the Mokpo branch was recently arrested in connection with the broker Mr. Sung Mo's case. This investigator is reported to have leaked information about ongoing police and prosecution investigations, delayed case processing, or participated in efforts to mitigate punishment.