Kim Ki-hyun "Lee Jae-myung's Residence Must Be Raided... Resignation from All Public and Candidacy Positions Too"

Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated at a press briefing on the 4th that additional raids by the prosecution related to the Daejang-dong development project are urgent.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, claimed that regarding the 'Daejang-dong scandal,' "All circumstances and evidence are focused on the main figure, Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province," and insisted that Lee should resign from all public offices and the presidential candidacy. He also urged the prosecution to conduct searches and seizures of Lee's residence, Gyeonggi Provincial Office, and his secretariat.

On the 4th, Kim held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly and stated, "No matter how much Lee and former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu try to deny it, they can only be seen as a political-economic community."

He questioned, "Lee used the absurd logic that if an employee of KEPCO takes a bribe, does the president resign? If the boss ordered the act, do they arrest the employee?" He added, "With former Director Yoo's arrest, the Daejang-dong gate investigation has come right up to Lee's doorstep," emphasizing, "Lee should stop deceiving the public and voluntarily request a special prosecutor investigation."

Kim said, "Lee has actively distanced himself from former Director Yoo, but Yoo's trajectory was truly a path of close aides," and added, "In the Democratic Party primary debate, Lee questioned whether Yoo helped with the election, then tangled his words by saying that only if someone helps with the election are they considered close aides. He has fallen into the trap he set himself."

He pointed out that the police and prosecution did not conduct proper investigations even after understanding the case. Regarding the police investigation, he criticized, "The police received a report in April from the Financial Intelligence Unit about suspicious funds related to Hwacheon Daeyu but stalled for five months until the Daejang-dong gate broke out. Even after the reports, they only gave a very formal explanation that they were checking for embezzlement and breach of trust," calling it "clear dereliction of duty."

Along with this, the People Power Party announced that they would file complaints with the prosecution against the head of the National Investigation Headquarters, the director of the investigation bureau, the chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and the chief of Yongsan Police Station for dereliction of duty.

He also criticized the prosecution's search and seizure as a "royal search," questioning, "How important is former Director Yoo that the warrant executor interviewed for two hours before carrying out the execution?" Kim demanded searches and seizures of Lee's residence, Gyeonggi Provincial Office, and secretariat.

After the briefing, when asked by reporters whether any direct connection with Lee had been identified, Kim replied, "I will gradually explain," adding, "I do not speak without evidence."

Regarding the Democratic Party mentioning the joint investigation headquarters, he dismissed it as "mere wordplay."

On People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok's proposal for a walking protest to push for a special prosecutor, Kim said, "We are planning various measures. Step by step, we will show concrete actions," adding, "Leader Lee will conduct a walking protest urging acceptance of the special prosecutor and continue one-person picket protests at major local roads nationwide."

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