[2023 National Audit] Kim Eui-gyeom "Lee Jae-myung Investigation Chief Invited to Family Meal at Luxury Resort by Large Corporation Vice Chairman"

Kim "Entertained Vice Chairman of Large Corporation During COVID-19 Gathering Ban"
Lee Won-seok, Prosecutor General, "Situation Unconfirmed as Subject Unable to Defend"

At the National Assembly inspection of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Kim Eui-gyeom, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, raised allegations that Lee Jeong-seop, the deputy chief prosecutor of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office investigating the suspicions of Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, regarding remittances to North Korea, received entertainment from a high-ranking corporate official.

Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok is responding to lawmakers' questions at the National Assembly's inspection of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office held on the 23rd at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

On the 23rd, during the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's inspection of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Representative Kim revealed photos at the hearing showing Lee visiting a luxury resort in Gangwon Province on December 24, 2020, at the invitation of a company's vice chairman, dining there with his family.

Kim stated, "The host is the vice chairman of a leading domestic conglomerate, easily ranked within the top 10 in South Korea's business circles," adding, "He can be described as a kind of group conglomerate troubleshooter, and Deputy Chief Lee has been investigating this group for a very long time." He continued, "Since 2015, investigations have been conducted almost every year, including a 3 trillion won LNG cartel involving construction companies, assault incidents within the group, investigations into industrial cartels, and preferential treatment of orders. It raises doubts whether it is appropriate for him to receive such hospitality from a key figure of the group he has been investigating." He then urged that Deputy Chief Lee be excluded from the investigation of the party leader.

Earlier, on the 17th of this month, during the National Assembly inspection of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, Representative Kim alleged that Deputy Chief Lee had engaged in false address registration to send his daughter to a prestigious school and, at the request of his brother-in-law who operates a golf course, had accessed criminal records of golf course employees on their behalf.

In response, Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok said, "Prosecutors are human, and the prosecution is a place where people live, so mistakes and problems can occur," adding, "The inspection hearing is not a confirmation hearing for a deputy chief prosecutor, who was recently a chief prosecutor. Upon seeing new information for the first time, I cannot immediately decide to exclude him from duties."

He continued, "It seems to be materials arising from a lawsuit dispute involving the deputy chief prosecutor's relatives. If given to us, we will review them," but also stated, "Since he cannot defend himself and this is being disclosed, the situation is unverified, and it is the position of a party involved in a private dispute. We will conduct the investigation with objectivity and fairness."

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