Lee Jae-myung, on 'Judicial Risk' Question: "Are You a Shaman Doing Rituals or Prosecutors Investigating?"

"People Power Party's accusation and the subsequent police and prosecution investigation?what kind of investigation is this?"
Investigation like a local shaman's ritual... Excessive slander against political opponents should be restrained

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] On the 17th, Lee Jae-myung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "Investigation should be conducted discreetly, but it is being done like a neighborhood shaman performing a gut ritual," adding, "It seems the main purpose is not to quietly find the truth and hold people accountable, but to beat the ggwanggwari and spread neighborhood rumors."

In a Q&A session with reporters after declaring his candidacy for party leader that day, when asked about the so-called 'judicial risk,' Lee responded, "I don't know if it's a shaman performing a gut ritual or prosecutors conducting an investigation," and said, "The People Power Party filed complaints, and the prosecution and police are investigating in agreement with that, so why is that called a judicial risk?"

He continued, "Is it a judicial risk if you get reported?" and added, "I've been thoroughly investigated for over ten years as if dust would fly on a rainy day, and if there were even a speck of fault in me, there would have already been a huge uproar." He criticized, "After 3 years and 6 months of investigation resulting in no charges, they stage a show by conducting another search and seizure, and that is not politics but political strife."

Lee claimed, "Based on statistics from when I was Mayor of Seongnam to the early days as Governor of Gyeonggi Province, I was subjected to search and seizure, investigations, and audits for 3 out of every 4 working days," and said, "While people are suffering from difficulties in their livelihoods, it is necessary to refrain from unnecessary and excessive slander aimed at attacking political opponents."

When asked by a reporter whether his statement that there is no 'factional nomination' implies giving up nomination rights, he smiled and said, "Who would give that up?" then answered, "It is desirable to supplement and expand the already excellent nomination system."

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