Prosecutors Summon Lee Jae-myung Couple Over Alleged Misuse of Gyeonggi Province Corporate Card (Comprehensive)

Summons Dates for Lee Couple: 4-5 Each
If Lee Jae-myung Complies, 7th Prosecutor Investigation

The prosecution has confirmed that it has notified former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung and his spouse to appear for questioning regarding the so-called 'Gyeonggi Province corporate card misuse' allegations.

According to the legal community on the 7th, the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Public Investigation Division (Chief Prosecutor Heo Hoon) notified Lee's side on the 4th to appear for investigation as a suspect on charges including breach of trust in the course of duty. The prosecution reportedly did not specify a single date for the summons but instead presented 4 to 5 possible dates each to Lee and his spouse Kim Hye-kyung.

The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office stated in a press release that "This summons request is a routine investigative procedure based on the Criminal Procedure Act, intended to hear the statements of the parties involved regarding the reported allegations and to provide an opportunity for explanation. The prosecution will dispose of the case based on evidence and legal principles." They cited Article 200 of the Criminal Procedure Act (which allows prosecutors or judicial police officers to require the attendance of a suspect to hear their statements when necessary for investigation) and Article 242 of the same law (which requires prosecutors or judicial police officers to interrogate suspects on the facts of the crime and necessary circumstances and to give them an opportunity to state any facts beneficial to them) as the legal basis for the summons.

The allegations of misuse of the Gyeonggi Province corporate card involve former Governor Lee Jae-myung and his spouse Kim Hye-kyung, who, during 2018-2019, allegedly had Baek Mo, a level 5 special appointment public official at the provincial government office, pay for personal food expenses such as sandwiches and fruit using the Gyeonggi Province corporate card, thereby privately misappropriating provincial funds. These allegations came to light after a former special appointment employee of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government, Jo Myung-hyun, exposed them. Previously, Jo reported that Kim and the level 5 special appointment official Baek had misused the corporate card for personal purposes. Baek was prosecuted on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act related to these allegations and was sentenced to 10 months in prison with a 2-year suspended sentence. This ruling has been finalized as is.

Former Democratic Party Leader Lee Jae-myung's spouse Kim Hye-kyung [Image source=Yonhap News]

In August of last year, Jo filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission requesting an investigation into Lee’s directive and tacit approval of the corporate card misuse. The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office took over the case after the Commission judged that "there is a likelihood that Lee was aware of his spouse’s misuse of the corporate card" and referred it to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. The prosecution, which has been investigating by questioning related staff including those from the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Secretariat, is expected to conclude the case after reviewing whether to indict Lee following his summons.

If Lee complies with the summons, it will be his seventh interrogation by the prosecution. Previously, Lee was investigated once for the Seongnam FC illegal sponsorship allegations, twice for the Wirye and Daejang-dong development allegations, once for the Baekhyeon-dong preferential treatment allegations, and twice for the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance allegations. Kim appeared before the prosecution on September 7, 2022, regarding allegations of providing meal expenses amounting to 104,000 won to three spouses of current and former lawmakers and two campaign staff members during the 2021 Democratic Party presidential primary (an act considered a donation under the Public Official Election Act). Kim’s election law violation case is currently undergoing first trial proceedings at the Suwon District Court.