Former assistant to Democratic Party chairman found dead

Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung makes a brief appearance at the National Assembly on March 2. [YONHAP]

A former executive assistant of Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung was found dead in his apartment on Thursday.

The man, Jeon Hyeong-su, worked for Lee when he was Gyeonggi governor from 2018 to 2021 and was being investigated by the police for his alleged role in a corruption and influence peddling case linked to Lee.

Jeon may have been questioned for his role as acting executive of the Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Development Corporation, a public urban development corporation established by the Gyeonggi provincial government, from November 2021 to December 2022.

The Gyeonggi housing corporation and its executives are being investigated by police for allegedly using public funds to rent a home next to Lee’s apartment in Bundang District of Seongnam, Gyeonggi, while Lee was governor, and using the space for Lee’s presidential election campaign office last year.

If found to be true, the use of public funds to support a candidate would violate the laws on political campaigns in Korea.

Lee ran for president last year, but lost to current President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Jeon was found dead in his home in Sujeong District in Seongnam, Gyeonggi on Thursday evening. Police found a note left by Jeon, but did not reveal the content of respect for his family.

Jeon was the fifth person tied to Lee found dead since investigations on Lee began. Lee is being investigated on bribery and corruption allegations, including over his involvement in a development project in Wirye New Town and Daejang-dong in Gyeonggi during his time serving as Seongnam city mayor.

The profits that were generated from the apartment development projects are suspected to have been used to create a political slush fund for Lee.

Lee is also suspected of offering quid pro quo deals to major companies including Doosan E&C and Naver, using his authority as Seongnam mayor in exchange for massive corporate sponsorships for the city's football club.

The prosecutors suspect the sponsorships benefited Lee politically and are also looking into the possibility that the funds were laundered to create a political slush fund.

Lee has denied the allegations.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]