{"id":2200013,"date":"2023-02-08T09:25:42","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T09:25:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nknews.org\/koreapro\/?p=2200013"},"modified":"2023-04-05T16:09:48","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T07:09:48","slug":"could-south-koreas-democratic-party-suffer-from-embattled-opposition-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/02\/could-south-koreas-democratic-party-suffer-from-embattled-opposition-leader\/","title":{"rendered":"Could South Korea\u2019s Democratic Party suffer from embattled opposition leader?"},"content":{"rendered":"
On Feb. 4, led by its leader Lee Jae-myung, 100 lawmakers and approximately 25,000 supporters of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) held a <\/span>massive anti-government rally<\/span><\/a> in central Seoul. It was the first time the DP had organized such a rally in six years when it demanded then-President Park Geun-hye\u2019s impeachment.<\/span><\/p>\n Surrounded by throngs of supporters carrying blue balloons <\/span>\u2014 the DP\u2019s color \u2014 Lee Jae-myung <\/span>criticized<\/span><\/a> the Yoon administration\u2019s attempt to \u201csilence the opposition\u201d by way of \u201cprosecutorial tyranny,\u201d all the while \u201cneglecting the people\u2019s basic needs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Lee used the event as a show of force to warn President Yoon Suk-yeol that he wouldn\u2019t be an easy mark. Lee is currently under <\/span>investigation<\/span><\/a> over corruption allegations surrounding a massive development project pushed for in Seongnam city while he was the city\u2019s mayor. But looks can be deceiving, and Lee may be in a weaker position than he appears.<\/span><\/p>\n DEEPENING LEGAL WOES<\/b><\/p>\n Prosecutors <\/span>accuse<\/span><\/a> Lee of receiving millions of dollars in the form of corporate sponsorships to the Seongnam Football Club (FC). In exchange for these corporate sponsorships, prosecutors allege that Lee used his authority as mayor to provide unfair advantages to these organizations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In a separate case, prosecutors also suspect Lee was involved in what has commonly come to be known as <\/span>the Daejang-dong land development scandal<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The scandal centers on allegations that an obscure and small private asset management company, Hwacheon Daeyu, and its affiliates reaped exponential profits during Lee\u2019s time as Seongnam\u2019s mayor when a close aide to Lee allegedly <\/span>leaked<\/span><\/a> inside information to real estate developers, helping them make nearly 21 billion won.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Prosecutors allege that the aide did so in exchange for financial kickbacks, which were then allegedly used to <\/span>fund<\/span><\/a> Lee Jae-myung\u2019s ultimately unsuccessful presidential campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n Although Lee denies all allegations against him, the prosecution has already made the unprecedented move to summon him \u2014 an incumbent opposition leader \u2014 for questioning. Twice. And they will likely summon him <\/span>a third time<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Lee\u2019s legal woes took a turn for the worse in late January when <\/span>Kim Seong-tae<\/span><\/a>, the former chairperson of Ssangbangwool Group, a fugitive businessman with ties to Lee Jae-myung allegedly told prosecutors that he <\/span>delivered<\/span><\/a> $8 million to North Korea in 2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kim Seong-tae alleged that of the $8 million, $5 million was to fund inter-Korean projects, and $3 million was to facilitate then-Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung\u2019s visit to North Korea. Any such transference of money to North Korea would have been illegal.<\/span><\/p>\n Lee again rejected all allegations against him, claiming the investigation was \u201cpolitically motivated.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n However, sensing that the prosecution seemed intent on arresting him, Lee <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> during a press conference that he would be indicted. However, he framed any prosecution he might face as a political attack by saying, \u201cI\u2019m paying the price for losing the presidential election.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n