'Started with Third-Party Bribery' Lee Jae-myung: Will 'Funds Transfer to North Korea' Charges Increase... Next Week a Turning Point

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has been registered as a suspect in the 'illegal remittance to North Korea' case and has become the target of prosecution investigation, drawing attention to what charges he might face. The prosecution initially applied the charge of 'third-party bribery' to Lee, marking the first step in the investigation, but it is expected that the charges will gradually increase.

According to the legal community on the 24th, the Criminal Division 6 of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-nam) notified Lee to appear for questioning on the 30th regarding the remittance to North Korea case. Since the prosecution did not accept Lee's side's request to be questioned on that day, it is highly likely that the summons investigation will take place next week as planned by the prosecution. Lee's side strongly opposed the prosecution's notice but stated, "We will face the summons investigation confidently" and "We will coordinate so that the investigation schedule takes place as soon as possible."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Accordingly, next week is expected to be a turning point for the expansion of charges against Lee related to the remittance to North Korea case. On the 29th, one day before Lee's scheduled summons, the 44th trial regarding former Gyeonggi Province Peace Deputy Governor Lee Hwa-young's charges of violating the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act will also be held. The content of Lee's charges could be influenced by the testimony that the former deputy governor will present in court.

During the prosecution investigation in June, the former deputy governor reportedly testified, "I requested Ssangbangwool to promote the Gyeonggi Province governor's visit to North Korea," and "I reported to Lee Jae-myung, then governor of Gyeonggi Province and Democratic Party leader, that 'Ssangbangwool spent money in North Korea while doing business, so we might have also paid attention.'" The former deputy governor may clarify specific positions regarding this testimony during the trial.

Former Minister of Labor Lee In-je, a legal professional, wrote on his Facebook the day before, "Based on the facts revealed so far, the structure of third-party bribery is far from the truth," adding, "Between Lee and former Ssangbangwool Group Chairman Kim Sung-tae, a general bribery charge can be established. Also, crimes under the Inter-Korean Cooperation Act and the National Security Act may be established between Lee and North Korea." The prosecution applied the third-party bribery charge to Lee by considering the bribe recipient as North Korea, but since the $3 million travel expenses to North Korea were money Lee had to give to North Korea, there is no reason to see former Chairman Kim as the provider.

Former Chairman Kim appeared as a witness at the trial of the former deputy governor held on the 22nd and gave unfavorable testimony against Lee, saying, "I had phone calls with Lee at key points during the process of North Korea covering the travel expenses, and I understand that the former deputy governor reported frequently." He answered that the reason for the payment was "because the former deputy governor promised support for North Korea-related projects at the Gyeonggi Province level." It is reported that the prosecution has been continuously reviewing whether to apply the charges mentioned by the former minister. The former minister said, "The prosecution should proceed with a straightforward approach, not an easy or convenient path."

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