Lee Jae-myung "Am I the Culprit?… People Power Party Boasting Loudly Will Soon Taste Corruption Hell"

"For the Citizens' Share, a Public-Private Joint Development Was Conducted"

Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate at the center of the Seongnam Daejang-dong development preferential treatment allegations, warned the People Power Party, saying, "They may be loudly boasting now with the power of the devil, but soon they will taste the 'hell of corruption'."

On the afternoon of the 1st, Lee posted on his Facebook under the title "Hell of Corruption, Heaven of Integrity, Money is the Devil," expressing these remarks.

Lee continued, "The moment you fall for the devil's temptation appearing with an angel's face, the gates of hell open," adding, "In public office, where the fate of hundreds of billions to trillions of won depends on my single approval signature or a glance, tremendous temptations and pressures come rushing in. Enduring that is true ability. The mayor of Yongin City, where development pressure is high, including Assemblyman Jeong Chan-min, was arrested without exception, and I am the only Seongnam mayor who did not go to prison."

He further stated, "'Hell of Corruption, Heaven of Integrity' is a phrase I posted in the Seongnam City Hall restroom," and "It is a warning I have repeatedly emphasized until my ears hurt at Seongnam City and Gyeonggi Province executive meetings."

Lee explained, "If I had carried out public development as I intended, or if it had been private development as the People Power Party wanted, there would have been no such commotion," adding, "I could not give up the citizens' share, so we did a public-private joint development that had to borrow the devil's technology and money and share the devil's portion. To minimize the devil's temptation during future projects and settlement processes, Seongnam City's share was pre-fixed as a fixed amount, not a ratio, and pre-executed."

Referring to the son of Assemblyman Kwak Sang-do, an independent (formerly People Power Party), who received 5 billion won as severance pay and other fees upon retiring from Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management (Hwacheon Daeyu), Lee raised his voice, saying, "The one who divides stolen goods is the thief, and the one who gave 5 billion won to Kwak Sang-do's son is the master," and "Those who joined hands with the devil, brought in the devil, and shared the devil's money slander me, who fought against the devil, as the 'culprit' and 'master.'"

Meanwhile, the People Power Party leadership is divided over the expulsion motion against Assemblyman Kwak Sang-do. On the 30th of last month, Supreme Council member Cho Soo-jin refused to attend an emergency late-night Supreme Council meeting called by Representative Lee Jun-seok, questioning, "Regardless of the amount of severance pay to Assemblyman Kwak's son, is there any crime or illegal activity related to Hwacheon Daeyu? Is there any evidence that Assemblyman Kwak received a bribe?" and "Can the Supreme Council decide to expel an independent assemblyman? Even the Chun Doo-hwan military regime did not do this," she criticized.

In response, on the morning of the 1st, Representative Lee posted on his Facebook, "Ahead of the presidential election, in a situation where even being a half-beat faster than usual is not enough, being called the Chun Doo-hwan military regime, I don't think there is a need to conduct party affairs," adding, "I feel infinite self-disgust seeing them immediately seize any chance to attack as soon as the party leader says there is no protection for loyalty, and then do media manipulation with reporters." He then retorted, "Do as you please."

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