With "Special Investigation Unit Prosecutor Gate" Opposition "Lee Jae-myung Incompetent, Underestimates Revenue"

Yoon Seok-yeol Sparks Controversy, Opposition Rushes to Contain
Lee Jun-seok: "Lee Jae-myung at Least Incompetent"
Lee Jae-myung's Camp: "Should Be Seen as a Legal Gate"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Koo Chae-eun and Park Joon-yi] As the fact of a single-family home transaction between Kim Man-bae (major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu) and the father of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol became known, the Daejang-dong gate 'fire' shifted toward former Prosecutor General Yoon, prompting the People Power Party to launch a 'full-scale offensive including defense.'

While denying the claims of a close relationship between Kim Man-bae and former Prosecutor General Yoon as 'groundless,' the party directly criticized Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung for 'incompetence,' citing his underestimation of the profitability of the development project. On the other hand, Lee's camp defined the Daejang-dong development suspicion as a 'gate involving high-ranking prosecutors from the special investigation unit, including former Prosecutor General Yoon,' tightening their offensive.

On the 30th, Kim Kyung-jin, a special spokesperson for external cooperation at Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign, denied on the radio the claim by Kim Eui-gyeom, a member of the Open Democratic Party, that former Prosecutor General Yoon and Kim Man-bae are 'like brothers,' saying, "Councilor Kim did not witness that scene directly, and I don't know how accurate the story he heard from reporters at the time is." The day before, Yoon's campaign strongly refuted Councilor Kim's claim as 'false information,' stating, "Kim Man-bae has a long legal career and is familiar, but they are not personally in contact by phone or meetings and have no friendship at all." They also said they would take legal action against Councilor Kim's false claims.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, also said on the radio that day, "Even listening to the real estate agent, this brokerage itself is similar to a general brokerage process," and "So far, I don't think there is content that can establish suspicion." Instead, he criticized Governor Lee for designing the public development process without setting a profit cap for private developers and only taking fixed profits, calling it a 'mistake' and 'incompetence.' He added, "(The Daejang-dong project) is located just below Seopangyo, with a highway, known as a good residential environment," and "There has never been a problem like this by underestimating the profits of private developers," concluding, "I think incompetence is at least involved (on Governor Lee's part)."

On the other hand, the ruling party is raising the level of offense by linking the controversy over the 5 billion won retirement pay of People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Sang-do's son to suspicions involving former Prosecutor General Yoon, framing the Daejang-dong suspicion as a 'legal cartel.' Kim Nam-guk, a Democratic Party lawmaker and chief of staff for Lee Jae-myung's campaign, appeared on the radio that day and diagnosed the case as a 'gate involving politicians from the People Power Party and high-ranking prosecutors from the special investigation unit.' He said, "There is suspicion of a quid pro quo relationship to cover up certain cases by intimidating high-ranking prosecutors as advisors," and mentioned, "I expect more people like lawmaker Kwak Sang-do to come out."

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential primary candidate, is delivering a greeting at the emergency forum on the legislation for recovering development gains held on the 29th at the Central Veterans Hall in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

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