Lee Jae-myung "Did Not Take a Single Penny of Private Gain"... Retaliates with Demand for 'Daejang-dong Special Prosecutor'

Kim Yong Denies Illegal Election Fund Allegations
Opposition Hints at Possible Street Protests
Ruling Party: "Retaliatory Investigation, No Objective Evidence"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, holds an emergency press conference at the National Assembly on the 21st. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Naju-seok, Lee Hyun-joo, Park Joon-yi, Kwon Hyun-ji] Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, held a press conference regarding allegations of illegal presidential election fund acceptance involving Kim Yong, deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute. He maintained his previous stance that "not a single won of personal gain was taken" and proposed introducing a special prosecutor not only for the Daejang-dong scandal but also for matters related to President Yoon Seok-yeol. This has been interpreted as an attempt to divert attention by turning the situation into a ‘special prosecutor political crisis.’

At the press conference held at the National Assembly on the 21st, Lee said, "With nothing surfacing despite waves of investigations, it seems the Yoon Seok-yeol prosecution is now resorting to fabrication," and urged, "I officially request the president and the ruling party to accept a special prosecutor to uncover the truth of all matters related to the Daejang-dong case."

Lee further called for a special prosecutor investigation into the Busan Savings Bank scandal, the circumstances under which Kim Man-bae’s sister purchased the house of President Yoon’s father, allegations of fabricated investigations and perjury coaching, and violations of the Public Official Election Act including President Yoon’s campaign statement that "Lee Jae-myung is the mastermind of Daejang-dong." This is a kind of ‘counterattack’ proposing simultaneous investigations into Lee’s illegal presidential election fund allegations and the suspicions Lee raised against President Yoon during the last presidential election related to the Daejang-dong case.

This stance is interpreted as an attempt to delay the formation of the special prosecutor while simultaneously pressuring the president and the ruling party. In this regard, Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, called for a special prosecutor investigation into Kim Keon-hee, the wife of President Yoon, during the party’s supreme council meeting that day. Park said, "While 224 search warrants have been executed against Lee, investigations into Mrs. Kim’s suspicions have not even started," demanding that the government and ruling party accept the appointment of a special prosecutor regarding stock manipulation allegations and false credentials related to Mrs. Kim.

On the 20th, at the emergency Democratic Party of Korea members' meeting held at the National Assembly, Representative Lee Jae-myung, Floor Leader Park Hong-geun, and other members protested against the prosecution's attempt to search the Democratic Party headquarters by holding picket signs. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The Democratic Party is considering various pressure tactics alongside the special prosecutor proposal. Jeong Cheong-rae, a supreme council member of the Democratic Party, announced strong opposition to President Yoon’s policy speech scheduled for the 25th. Referring to the controversy over President Yoon’s alleged use of a vulgar term "IXX" during his visit to the U.S., Jeong said, "He should either stop speaking nonsense or issue a sincere apology," adding, "If he does not apologize, I order a ban on his access to the National Assembly. We will not let this pass easily." Unlike the polite response to the second supplementary budget policy speech earlier this year, this time they intend to clearly express their protest.

Although the opposition party does not explicitly mention it, they are leaving open the possibility of street protests and other actions. Park, the floor leader, said on MBC Radio’s Kim Jong-bae’s Focus, "Sometimes we may not attend the National Assembly as a strong form of raising issues," adding, "We may engage in a prolonged fight with the public and have various response cards." He said, "We have now entered the early stage of a tough upcoming struggle against the government," and "Whether or not to hold street protests will be decided gradually in the future."

The possibility of Democratic Party lawmakers joining rallies in Gwanghwamun demanding President Yoon’s impeachment has also increased. Jin Sung-jun, deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party, appeared on CBS Radio’s Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show and said, "If this situation continues, it is highly likely that lawmakers who feel indignation will voluntarily participate more widely," adding, "It is natural and proper to resist and protect the party leader when the core of the regime tries to destroy the Democratic Party leader." This is effectively endorsing participation in the rallies.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the National Assembly's audit countermeasure meeting held on the 21st and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The People Power Party has continued to criticize the Democratic Party for focusing solely on protecting ‘Leader Lee Jae-myung.’ Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the National Assembly audit countermeasure meeting that day, "There is a saying that the more you try to hide, the more it is revealed," and added, "What are you afraid of that you obstruct official duties? The more you do that, the more it shows there is a big problem."

Sung Il-jong, chairman of the Policy Committee, also criticized, "To prevent the search of one criminal suspect’s office, 169 lawmakers mobilized," and said, "How do the people think of the Democratic Party that exaggerates one office as the central party headquarters, deceives the public, and abandons people’s livelihoods? It is truly shameful." Sung added, "Isn’t it said that those who rise by the sword perish by the sword?" and "Lee Jae-myung is personally showing that those who rise by lies perish by lies."

Warnings not to evade investigations were also reiterated. Song Eon-seok, chief deputy floor leader, said, "They claim it is retaliatory investigation and opposition suppression, but there is no reasonable or objective evidence," adding, "The normal and rational action is to attend accurately and reveal the truth. I strongly urge them not to obstruct the audit and to return to a livelihood-focused audit."

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