Lee Jae-myung: "If It Were Me, I Wouldn't Have Given Even 1 Won... The Owner of Hwacheon Daeyu Is the Person Who Gave 5 Billion Won to Kwak Sang-do's Son"

Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, criticized People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Sang-do, who resigned amid controversy over his son's receipt of a 5 billion KRW retirement payment from Hwacheon Daeyu.

Today (the 3rd), after the primary election held at the Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center (BPEX), Lee responded to reporters' questions regarding Kwak by saying, "He is an interesting person," and added, "It seems as if he said I am the mastermind behind all the allegations, but the person who gave 5 billion KRW to Kwak's son is the owner of Hwacheon Daeyu." He continued, "Even if you throw money to a passing dog, why would you give money to a prosecutor's son who fabricated a will? If it were me, I wouldn't have given even one won."

Lee stated, "I doubt that tens of billions of won were given without any compensation," and speculated, "It is likely some form of compensation, and isn't this a trick to evade investigation?" He also said, "I want to say that the investigative agencies should conduct a thorough investigation to clearly reveal why the money was received, and since it is obviously abnormal, it is time for the appropriate punishment."

Regarding the preferential development allegations related to Daejang-dong, Lee said, "Some conservative media, colluding with corrupt political forces and construction factions monopolizing private development profits, are deceiving with 'fake news' and inciting as if I am responsible," adding, "The public is not foolish enough to fall for that." He further emphasized, "The people are different from politicians who have two eyes and two ears; they are a collective intelligence with one hundred million eyes and ears and fifty million mouths communicating."

He explained, "Common sense tells everyone that I cannot be involved in how private sector investments participated in the (Daejang-dong) development or how the development profits were divided." He also claimed, "They were stealing and dividing the stolen goods, then fighting over them, and when trying to cover it up by distributing money somewhere, they got caught. It is outrageous to portray me, who blocked the theft, as a thief."

Meanwhile, in the primary election held that day, Lee secured 19,698 votes out of a total of 35,832 votes cast (voter turnout 57.70%), winning with 55.34% of the vote, achieving a majority victory.

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