Tensions Rise Between Lee Nak-yeon and Lee Jae-myung Over 'Daejang-dong Allegations'

Lee Nak-yeon Side Urges "Establishment of Government Joint Investigation Headquarters"
Rep. Seol Hoon: "Party Leadership Must Prepare Measures for Candidate Arrest Situations"
Lee Jae-myung Side: "Unfortunate and Frustrating, Wondering About the Intent"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The top two presidential candidates of the Democratic Party, Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung and former leader Lee Nak-yeon’s camp, are engaged in a fierce battle of nerves ahead of the final regional primaries scheduled for the 9th and 10th. While the former leader’s side views the ‘Daejang-dong development preferential treatment allegations’ as a risk to the party, Lee Jae-myung’s side expressed strong regret, calling such a perspective “regrettable.”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 7th, Kim Hyo-eun, spokesperson for Lee Nak-yeon’s camp, issued a statement saying, “Only the ‘Government Joint Investigation Headquarters’ can provide answers to the Daejang-dong corruption,” and emphasized, “Please establish the joint investigation headquarters quickly and reveal the truth at the level the public expects.”

Spokesperson Kim pointed out, “With suspicions emerging almost daily, the public’s doubts are only growing, but nothing is being clearly revealed,” adding, “When the prosecution and police investigations began, we hoped the truth of the corruption would be uncovered, but it feels like they are only pretending to investigate, which is frustrating.” He further criticized, “They have not summoned key figures, nor conducted raids on Seongnam City Hall or Seongnam Urban Development Corporation. Without even securing the most basic mobile phones, it is incomprehensible what they are doing.”

Earlier, former leader Lee Nak-yeon had urged the establishment of a Government Joint Investigation Headquarters from the early stages of the Daejang-dong allegations. During the Democratic Party primaries, he proposed the joint investigation to Governor Lee Jae-myung in TV debates, to which Lee also expressed agreement.

Spokesperson Kim said, “The Daejang-dong case is an unprecedented corruption scandal involving politics, the judiciary, media, and local governments,” and added, “Only strict investigation and punishment are prerequisites for the future of the Republic of Korea.”

Seol Hoon, a lawmaker serving as co-chief of Lee Nak-yeon’s campaign, appeared on KBS Radio that morning and said, “Former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu was arrested for breach of trust, and Lee Jae-myung himself admitted to designing the scheme,” adding, “There is a very real possibility that Lee Jae-myung faces breach of trust charges.”

Seol expressed concern, saying, “If the situation escalates to that extent, it would be an existential crisis for the Democratic Party,” and urged, “The party leadership must prepare judgments and measures in case the candidate is arrested.”

In response to such criticism, Lee Jae-myung’s side replied, “It is frustrating and regrettable.”

On the same day, Jo Jung-sik, who serves as the general campaign director for Lee Jae-myung’s camp, said in a morning briefing, “Why and with what intention are they making claims that represent the People Power Party? It is regrettable.”

He emphasized, “The Daejang-dong case is not the ‘Lee Jae-myung Gate’ but the ‘People Power Party, Hwacheon Daeyu Gate,’” and added, “This was proven in last week’s primary results. Democratic Party members and the public overwhelmingly showed trust in Lee Jae-myung’s integrity and truth.”

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