Why Lee Jae-myung Calls for a 'Special Prosecutor' Only When the Prosecutors' Blade Is Right Under His Chin?

Opposition: "Exclude Savings Bank Corruption Investigation" Repeated Special Prosecutor Proposal
Ruling Party, 'Special Prosecutor Is a Time-Dragging Old Corruption Tactic' Recalls Former Lee's Remarks for Counterattack

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] As close aides of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, are being consecutively arrested or come under investigation, the prosecution's inquiry has reached right up to Lee himself. Amid this, Lee has repeatedly called for the introduction of a 'special prosecutor law' regarding the Daejang-dong development corruption allegations. This is interpreted as an attempt to assert his innocence concerning the allegations while highlighting the unfairness of the prosecution's investigation.

Recently, as the prosecution's net tightened with the arrest of his closest aide Kim Yong, Deputy Director of the Democratic Research Institute, on suspicion of 'illegal presidential election fund receipt,' Lee requested the ruling party to accept a 'Daejang-dong special prosecutor.' He expressed willingness to exclude the investigation into President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'Busan Savings Bank poor investigation allegations' from the special prosecutor's scope, which he had initially insisted on. On the 24th, at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, Lee said, "I ask that the Daejang-dong special prosecutor not be linked to the Kim Gun-hee special prosecutor. If the investigation into President Yoon's Busan Savings Bank corruption allegations is burdensome, it can be excluded." The reason for pushing the special prosecutor, he explained, is "because national capabilities should be focused on people's livelihood, and it is not desirable to waste over a year on political strife, so it should be entrusted to a special prosecutor." Lee also emphasized, "Those who refuse the special prosecutor are the culprits."

The reason Lee is advocating for the special prosecutor again now is analyzed as an attempt to assert his innocence regarding the Daejang-dong allegations while emphasizing that it is the ruling party that refuses the special prosecutor. The Democratic Party claims the investigation into the presidential election funds is a 'political oppression and fabricated investigation' by the opposition, and distrust in the prosecution's investigation appears to be a background for demanding the special prosecutor.

The People Power Party holds the position that they cannot accept the special prosecutor. Given the progress in the investigation, such as the arrest of Deputy Director Kim Yong and revelations about Lee from former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu, Lee's call for a special prosecutor is seen as merely a 'stalling tactic.' Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said in an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "the introduction of a special prosecutor can be discussed when the prosecution's investigation is not properly conducted or significant problems arise," adding, "At this stage, a special prosecutor is not appropriate."

He also referred to Lee's statement during his time as Gyeonggi Province governor that "stalling through special prosecutor investigations is a tactic of the entrenched corrupt forces," saying, "(Lee, who is now advocating for a special prosecutor) is exactly such a case," and pointed out, "During the Democratic Party's administration, when the prosecution's investigation was sluggish and we proposed special prosecutors over 40 times, they effectively refused the special prosecutor."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party has defined the prosecution's Daejang-dong investigation as 'political oppression' and boycotted President Yoon's policy speech held at the National Assembly plenary session on the 25th. The Democratic Party had previously demanded an apology for President Yoon's vulgar language controversy and acceptance of the Daejang-dong special prosecutor, but with no response from the presidential office, they appear to have taken a hardline stance by not attending the policy speech. In his remarks at the party members' meeting that day, Lee said, "If the government and ruling party reveal their intention to annihilate the opposition and exercise violent domination in this manner, we have no choice but to fight back."

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