Prosecutors Conduct Search and Seizure at Doosan Group Headquarters Over 'Seongnam FC Sponsorship Fund Allegations'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution investigating the 'Seongnam FC sponsorship fund suspicion' involving Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is conducting a search and seizure at the Doosan Group headquarters.

The Criminal Division 3 of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Seongnam Branch (Chief Prosecutor Yoo Min-jong) sent investigators to the Doosan Group headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 20th to secure related materials such as servers. This search and seizure is known to be a continuation of the raids conducted on more than 20 locations, including Doosan Construction in Gangnam-gu, Seongnam FC, and Seongnam City Hall offices on the 16th.

The suspicion regarding Seongnam FC sponsorship involves allegations that while Lee was serving as mayor of Seongnam and the owner of Seongnam FC, he secured approximately 5.5 billion KRW in advertising sponsorship funds from Doosan Construction between 2016 and 2018, and in return, the Doosan Group’s 3,000-pyeong hospital site in Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu was rezoned for commercial use.

At that time, Seongnam City increased the floor area ratio, building scale, and total floor area by about three times and only received 10% of the total site area as a donation, raising suspicions that Doosan gained enormous profits.

The police, who have been investigating this suspicion, notified the prosecution on the 13th that there is sufficient evidence to recognize the charge of bribery by a third party against Lee and one Seongnam city official, based on supplementary investigation results.

Seongnam City and Doosan Construction deny the allegations, stating, "There is no connection between the Seongnam FC advertising sponsorship funds and the rezoning." Lee claimed on social media (SNS) in August last year, while the investigation was ongoing, that "Even if it is assumed that Seongnam FC, owned by Seongnam City, received advertising fees as a condition for rezoning, it benefits the citizens."

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