Opposition leader to appear for questioning in bribery probe

Lee Jae-myung, head of the Democratic Party, leaves the National Assembly building in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Monday. [NEWS1]

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was set to appear at a prosecutor's office for questioning Tuesday over bribery allegations surrounding corporate donations to a football club while he was serving as the mayor of Seongnam, Gyeonggi.

Lee, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, is scheduled to arrive at the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors Office at 10:30 a.m. Senior DP lawmakers are expected to accompany him.

Prosecutors suspect Lee, who served as the mayor of Seongnam, is linked to allegations that the city government attracted 17 billion won ($13.7 million) in corporate donations to its municipal football club in return for administrative favors between 2016 and 2018.

The companies include internet portal operator Naver and Doosan Engineering & Construction.

Last year, prosecutors indicted a former head of Doosan Engineering & Construction on charges of donating 5.5 billion won to Seongnam FC in exchange for business favors, and has since expanded the investigation to other firms.

Lee has denied any wrongdoing, claiming the prosecution investigation is a politically motivated attempt to remove him and suppress the main opposition party.

Yonhap