Lee Jae-myung Fiercely Criticizes "Prosecutors' Madness" Amid 'Death March' Assault... "Unforgivable Crazy Stabbing"

Lee Jae-myung, Strong Reaction to Fifth Death Among Associates
"Is This Because of Lee Jae-myung or Due to Excessive Pressure from the Prosecution?"
"Insane Attacks, Absolutely Unforgivable" Announces Direct Confrontation

As the prosecution's investigation into Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, progresses, the number of people close to him who have ended their lives by extreme means has risen to five, increasing the political burden on Lee. Meanwhile, the newly appointed leadership of the People Power Party, having just concluded their party convention, found an opportunity to launch attacks, and efforts to embrace the non-mainstream factions by emphasizing a 'unified front' have been dampened. However, Lee appears to view the successive tragic news about his acquaintances as a result of the prosecution's excessive and coercive investigation and is expected to confront the current crisis head-on.

On the 10th, Lee resumed his public livelihood activities in Gyeonggi Province, his political hometown, after a month and a half hiatus due to attending prosecution summons and votes on arrest consent. This schedule drew particular attention as it was his first public appearance following the discovery of Jeon, who served as Lee's first chief secretary during his tenure as governor of Gyeonggi Province, found dead at his home in Gyeonggi. The fact that the number of deaths among Lee's close associates has increased to five, and that aggressive remarks such as "the procession of death" and "Lee Jae-myung's endurance" have spread through reports, fueling the 'Lee Jae-myung responsibility theory,' made the meeting unusually heavy and solemn. Attendees remained tight-lipped and wore stiff expressions throughout.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Wearing a black suit and blue tie, Lee harshly criticized the prosecution during the on-site Supreme Council meeting held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly that morning, saying, "Everyone connected to me, all those who have ties with me, are becoming subjects of investigation, and not only themselves but also their surroundings are being thoroughly swept like dust in secondary and tertiary rounds."

Initially scheduled to speak first, Lee postponed his remarks until the end and began solemnly, "Yesterday, I received an unbelievable obituary," before continuing.

He said, "Among the public officials I have met, one of the most honest, diligent, devoted, and capable officials took his own life," adding, "How difficult it must have been to see his proud public service achievements denied by the prosecution's fabrication and to endure continuous pressure investigations."

He then fiercely condemned the prosecution, raising his voice, "No matter how ruthless politics may be, do not use these unjust deaths as political tools."

He also unusually pleaded for the attacks against him to cease, saying, "Is this because of Lee Jae-myung, or is it because of the prosecution's excessive pressure investigations?"

He criticized strongly, "Is being investigated my fault? Sweeping my surroundings like dust and even their surroundings?how can those people endure? This is sheer madness," and added, "I absolutely cannot forgive the prosecution's insane slashing."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

After the meeting, Lee is expected to visit Jeon's funeral home to pay his respects. While some attribute Jeon's death to Lee, he appears determined not to be intimidated but to clearly assert that it is a result of the prosecution's terror and coercive investigations and to firmly resist.

At the meeting, Supreme Council member Jeong Cheong-rae also criticized the prosecution, saying, "Yesterday, an unjust and tragic death occurred," and urged the prosecution to clarify whether there was harsh or excessive investigation, implying that the prosecution drove Jeon to death. Supreme Council member Park Chan-dae also sharply demanded, "Yoon Seok-yeol's prosecution, stop the coercive investigations."

Pro-Lee lawmakers also supported Lee's stance. A senior lawmaker said in a phone interview, "We need to carefully examine the circumstances of the victims," pointing out, "The prosecution's coercive investigations are causing numerous deaths." He added, "It is problematic to simply view this as a Lee Jae-myung issue. Who would take their own life to protect their superior?" and said, "The burden on those under investigation arises from fear of the prosecution's coercive investigations under Yoon Seok-yeol's prosecution." He criticized, "It is the result of fear caused by the prosecution's excessive, recognition-based, and fabricated investigations." Another first-term lawmaker said, "I don't understand why the prosecution is driving not only the person involved but also their family, friends, and acquaintances to such an extreme that they have no choice but to take drastic measures," and strongly stated, "The party naturally must criticize and further condemn the barbaric prosecution investigations."

However, the level of attacks against Lee both inside and outside the party is expected to intensify, potentially increasing his political burden.

On the same day, Sung Il-jong, policy chief of the People Power Party, directly targeted Lee at the floor countermeasure meeting, saying, "The only person who can stop the death rally is one person, 'that person,'" referring to Lee. He asked, "How long must the fear of death continue around Lee?" and shot, "Why do politics? Isn't it to save lives?" He emphasized, "Only Lee, who is building a fortress using the party as a shield behind the bulletproof vest of a member of the National Assembly, can prevent the sixth and seventh deaths." Jo Jung-hoon, leader of the Transition Korea party, posted on Facebook the same day, "Leader Lee Jae-myung, please stop the politics of death," harshly criticizing, "Politics is essentially about saving and uplifting people and society, but Lee is engaging in a politics of death unseen in Korean politics."

It remains to be seen whether the internal party strife, which seemed barely settled, will accelerate again. A non-mainstream lawmaker said in a phone interview, "(The extreme choice of the Gyeonggi governor's chief secretary) has become another burden for Lee." He was skeptical about the party's response to the prosecution's coercive investigations, drawing a line by saying, "This is related to Lee, not the party."

Meanwhile, Jeon, found dead at his home the previous day, served as Lee's first chief secretary during his tenure as governor of Gyeonggi Province and was classified as one of Lee's close aides, having served as administrative planning and coordination chief during Lee's time as mayor of Seongnam. Following the deaths of four others?Yoo Han-gi, former head of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation; Kim Moon-gi, former head of Development Division 1 at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation (December 2021); Lee Mo, head of a civic group who reported allegations of lawyer fee payments (January 2022); and an acquaintance of a key figure related to corporate card misuse allegations (July)?Jeon's extreme choice brings the total number of Lee's associates who have died during the prosecution's investigation to five.

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