Police Conduct Search of Lawyer Jang Young-ha's Office Over Allegations Linking Lee Jae-myung to Gangsters

Attorney Jang Young-ha, author of 'Goodbye, Lee Jae-myung,' is holding a press conference on the 3rd at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, regarding allegations of preferential treatment in sponsorship funds for Seongnam FC. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] The police conducted a search and seizure of the office of lawyer Jang Youngha, who was accused of raising allegations of gang involvement against Lee Jae-myung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

The Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency searched lawyer Jang's office on the morning of the 12th on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and defamation.

In October of last year, Kim Yongpan, a member of the People Power Party, revealed during the Gyeonggi Province audit that he had received a tip that Mr. Park, a former operative of the International Mafia Group, a violent organization in Seongnam, and an employee of Komatrade, gave cash to the lawmaker as a condition for preferential business support.

At the time, claims were made that the lawmaker received illegal funds worth about 2 billion won, along with photos of bundles of cash and statements written by Mr. Park. However, the photos were confirmed to have been posted by Mr. Park on social media in 2018 to flaunt his wealth, sparking controversy over 'false accusations.'

In response, the Democratic Party filed a complaint against Mr. Park and lawyer Jang on charges including violation of the Public Official Election Act, claiming that false information was disclosed with the intent to defeat candidate Lee Jae-myung ahead of the 20th presidential election.

Earlier, on March 29, the police searched three locations including Suwon Detention Center where Mr. Park is incarcerated, examining correspondence and visitation records exchanged with the outside. In April, they also conducted an interview investigation with Mr. Park.

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