大量の?索令?を準備…?察、Seongnam FC疑惑の資料確保に全力

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution is putting all its efforts into securing materials related to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and the 'Seongnam FC sponsorship fund allegations,' drawing keen attention from political and legal circles to the outcome.

According to the legal community on the 5th, the Criminal Division 3 of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Seongnam Branch (Chief Prosecutor Yoo Min-jong), which is investigating the case, has obtained a large number of search warrants from the court in advance and is conducting raids. Since sending prosecutors and investigators to Doosan Construction and others on the 16th of last month to secure materials, they have conducted raids on 37 locations three times over 20 days. The day before, they inspected seven places including NongHyup Bank Seongnam Branch, Pangyo Alphadom City office, Hyundai Department Store Apgujeong Main Branch, and Pangyo Branch. The large-scale raids are expected to continue for the time being. The prosecution is expanding the scope of the investigation to companies directly or indirectly connected to six companies known to have donated sponsorship funds to Seongnam FC football club from 2014 to 2017: Doosan Construction (4.2 billion KRW), Naver (3.9 billion KRW), NongHyup (3.6 billion KRW), Bundang CHA Hospital (3.3 billion KRW), Alphadom City (550 million KRW), and Hyundai Department Store (500 million KRW).

Legal circles analyze that the prosecution has launched a speed operation. Since a considerable amount of time has passed since the allegations were first raised, it is highly likely that all related materials have been disposed of. Furthermore, the initial police investigation was insufficient, limiting the ability to confirm the full details of the case. To overcome these difficulties, the prosecution has conducted rapid and extensive raids.

After reviewing the materials secured through the raids, the prosecution plans to summon and investigate related parties. It is expected that close aides of Lee, such as Jeong Jin-sang, Director of Political Coordination at the Democratic Party leader's office (former Seongnam City Policy Director), will be summoned first. Jeong is known to have played a practical leadership role in the operation of the club during Lee’s tenure as Seongnam mayor and Seongnam FC club owner from 2014 to 2017.

Meanwhile, on the 30th of last month, the Criminal Division 3 of the Seongnam Branch indicted former Seongnam City Strategic Promotion Team Leader A and former Doosan Construction CEO B without detention for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery), stating in the indictment that Lee conspired with Jeong and others to receive sponsorship funds in exchange for resolving corporate issues.

Initially, after acquiring the Seongnam Ilhwa football club in December 2013, Lee planned to secure 15 billion KRW annually for operating funds, but when difficulties arose, he sought sponsorship funds for Seongnam FC by contacting companies with pending issues requiring various business or construction permits, according to the prosecution. Additionally, around November 2014, Lee proposed and signed an agreement with Doosan Group, which requested a change in land use and an increase in floor area ratio for the Jeongja-dong site, offering '10% donation in kind, exemption of the remaining 5%, and 5 billion KRW provided to Seongnam FC' as compensation, as stated in the indictment.

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