Lee Jae-myung calls for special counsel probe

Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung holds a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, Friday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung called Friday for an independent counsel probe into a corruption scandal after prosecutors filed for an arrest warrant for his close aide earlier in the day.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office said Friday morning it requested an arrest warrant for Kim Yong, a close aide of Lee's, for allegedly taking bribes from real estate developers in the Daejang-dong land development project in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, to use in Lee's campaign to run for president last year.

On Wednesday, prosecutors detained Kim, vice president of a DP-affiliated think tank named the Institute for Democracy, for questioning over allegedly receiving over 800 million won ($560,617) from another Lee aide who has been in detention for his role in the Daejang-dong project.

Prosecutors believe that Kim used the money in Lee's presidential campaign because the transactions took place from April to August 2021, when the DP was holding its presidential primary. Lee ultimately lost by a narrow margin in the March 9 presidential election to his People Power Party (PPP) rival Yoon Suk-yeol.

Also on Wednesday, prosecutors tried to raid the Institute for Democracy's offices in the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido, western Seoul, but DP lawmakers blocked them. The DP accused the Yoon government and PPP of "political retaliation."

In a press conference at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Friday, Lee said he "officially requested" President Yoon and the PPP for an independent counsel investigation into the Daejang-dong land development allegations. That scandal centers on allegations that an obscure and small private asset management company, Hwacheon Daeyu, and its affiliates reaped exponential profits from the 2015 project, which was during Lee's time as Seongnam's mayor.

Lee denied that the bribes allegedly received by Kim were used for his presidential campaign.

"I have not received a single piece of candy, let alone illegal presidential funds," said Lee.

He said an independent counsel should investigate the full spectrum of "false allegations" over the land development project so that the political parties can focus on improving people's livelihoods.

The PPP immediately rejected Lee's request.

PPP floor leader Joo Ho-young said in a press conference later Friday, "Since the [prosecution] investigation is proceeding properly, Lee is requesting a special probe so that an independent counsel can take over the investigation and drag out the process."

He added, "The only way to get rid of political conflict and focus on people's livelihoods is for the prosecution to quickly and strictly investigate and report the results to the public."

He accused Lee of trying to "mobilize the Democrats and drive the National Assembly into strife to avoid his own judicial risks."

The DP holds a parliamentary majority with 169 seats, meaning it can pass a bill to conduct a special counsel probe without PPP support. The president has the power to veto it.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]