Prosecutors Notify Lee Jae-myung to Appear on 27th Over 'Wirye and Daejang-dong Allegations' (Comprehensive)

Lee Jae-myung, Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution investigating the Wirye and Daejang-dong development corruption cases has summoned Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who has been identified as the central figure in the allegations. This comes just six days after Lee was questioned at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Seongnam Branch on the 10th regarding the 'Seongnam FC sponsorship fund suspicion.'

According to the legal community on the 16th, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1 (Chief Prosecutor Eom Hee-jun) and Division 3 (Chief Prosecutor Kang Baek-shin) of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office have notified Lee's side to appear for questioning after the Lunar New Year on charges including breach of trust and violation of the Anti-Corruption Act.

The prosecution suspects that Lee, who exercised final decision-making authority as mayor of Seongnam in the Daejang-dong development corruption case, provided conveniences to private developers, enabling them to earn a massive profit of 404 billion KRW, thereby causing equivalent losses to Seongnam City. It is also believed that Lee was involved in the process where his close aide, then Seongnam Mayor’s Policy Secretary Jeong Jin-sang, received 42.8 billion KRW from Daejang-dong private developers in exchange for business favors and support for various election funds.

Regarding the Wirye New Town project, it is also reported that in 2013, then Secretary Jeong Jin-sang was involved in or tacitly approved leaking internal information to private developers to facilitate their selection as project operators.

In response to the prosecution’s summons, Lee is expected to discuss with party leadership whether to comply with the summons. There is also a possibility that he may refuse to appear. Even if he does appear, he might not actively cooperate with the investigation. Previously, when Lee was questioned on the 10th at the Seongnam Branch regarding the Seongnam FC sponsorship fund suspicion, he submitted a six-page written statement and reportedly responded to most of the prosecution’s questions by referring to the contents of the written statement.

Lee has consistently emphasized that the Daejang-dong development project was a 'successful case of public recovery.' Regarding allegations that his close aides received various illegal funds, he has claimed it is a "political prosecution targeting Lee Jae-myung," asserting, "I did not gain a single won of private benefit. I have nothing to be ashamed of when looking up to the sky."

The prosecution is reportedly considering requesting an arrest warrant after completing Lee’s investigation, combining it with the Seongnam FC sponsorship fund suspicion case. However, since Lee is a current member of the National Assembly and the Assembly is in session, securing his custody requires going through the parliamentary consent procedure for arrest. Given that the Democratic Party holds a majority in the current National Assembly, it is highly likely that the consent motion for Lee’s arrest will be rejected.

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