Prosecutors raid 10 corporate offices in Seongnam FC probe

Naver's buildling in Seongnam, Gyeonggi on August 8. [YONHAP]

Prosecutors raided 10 corporate offices, including Naver, on Monday in relation to allegations that former presidential candidate and current Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung, who was mayor of Seongnam from 2010 to 2018, took donations from companies via the city’s football club, Seongnam FC.

Raids related to the Seongnam FC donations have taken place over the past two weeks. The prosecution raided Doosan Group's headquarters last Tuesday and 20 other locations on Sept. 16 including Doosan Engineering & Construction, Seongnam FC and Seongnam City Hall.

The Seongnam FC probe is looking into whether Lee, during his term as mayor of Seongnam, received 16 billion won ($12.6 million) in corporate donations to the football club from companies including Doosan Group, Naver Corporation and Hyundai Department Store, between 2014 to 2016. These companies allegedly received business favors such as building permits and land use changes in return.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]