"Firm Response to False Claims" vs "Power-Type Gate" Lawmakers' Clash over 'Lime·Optimus Scandal'

與 "Unsubstantiated Allegations Are Being Raised"
野 "No Reason to Hesitate on Introducing Special Prosecutor"

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party (right), and Joo Ho-young, Floor Leader, are talking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 12th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Amid allegations of ruling party figures' involvement in the 'Lime and Optimus fund fraud case,' the opposition party has labeled the incident as a 'power-type gate' and emphasized the need for a special prosecutor. Meanwhile, the ruling party has stated its firm stance to respond decisively against baseless claims and the inflation of suspicions.

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, pointed out at the party's emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th, "The recent Lime and Optimus financial accidents inevitably raise suspicions that this is a power-type corruption gate disrupting our country's financial order."

He continued, "It is hard to imagine how ruling party figures mobilized power to meticulously execute such a team play to pick the pockets of investors," adding, "Especially, there is suspicion that although the prosecution and the ruling party recognized the corruption gate earlier this year, they concealed the full story before the general election."

Chairman Kim said, "The estimated damage alone is 2.1 trillion won, an enormous scale approaching six times the budget for flood recovery in Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do," and criticized, "The current Minister of Justice dismantled the Joint Securities Crime Investigation Unit investigating related corruption suspicions immediately after taking office, and it seems clear what the intention was in cutting off the hands and feet of the (Yoon Seok-yeol) Prosecutor General who was investigating ruling party corrupt figures."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader, also mentioned the need for a special investigation team and a special prosecutor, saying, "The current investigation team cannot be left as is for the investigation to proceed."

Floor Leader Joo said, "If the investigation is not conducted strictly through a special investigation team or special prosecutor, the public cannot trust the investigation," adding, "The investigation team should be replaced quickly, and a special investigation team appointed by the Prosecutor General should be formed, or the case should be entrusted to a special prosecutor to reveal the full story early."

Yoon Hee-seok, spokesperson of the same party, argued that President Moon Jae-in should personally step in to resolve the situation. In a statement that day, he said, "As testimonies and evidence related to the Lime and Optimus fund incidents are emerging one after another, their substance is being revealed," opening with, "Both cases are typical power-type corruption that destroyed the financial order of the Republic of Korea and betrayed public trust."

He said, "Ruling party figures who should work for the people seem to have secretly and meticulously played as a team to pick the pockets of the people," but also criticized, "The prosecution's investigation is so poor and sluggish that it is hard to trust. This is the result of Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae isolating the Prosecutor General through successive code appointments and dismantling the Joint Securities Crime Investigation Unit."

He added, "President Moon Jae-in must personally step in," emphasizing, "The president should order the prosecution to clearly reveal the truth of this situation. If necessary, there is no hesitation in introducing a special prosecutor."

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 12th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, the Democratic Party of Korea urged the prosecution to conduct a thorough investigation, stating that "various unclear suspicions have been raised" regarding the Lime and Optimus Asset Management cases.

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party, said at the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "The prosecution should conduct a strict and thorough investigation regardless of who the target is, leaving no suspicion unaddressed and revealing the truth," adding, "We will respond firmly to baseless false claims and the inflation of suspicions."

Kim Nam-guk, a Democratic Party lawmaker, also appeared on KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strong Current Affairs' and emphasized, "A proper investigation must be conducted according to law and principles."

He said, "Looking at the documents related to the Lime and Optimus Asset Management cases, it does not seem that specific people's names were mentioned," adding, "There are phrases that suggest involvement in that part, and the prosecution has conducted some investigations on this and appears to be conducting additional investigations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.