DP leader Lee Jae-myung legally challenging year [REWIND 2023]

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung enters the Seoul Central District Court to attend his trial on Daejang-dong development and other consolidated cases on Dec. 19. [YONHAP]

Starting with his first summoning by the prosecutor’s office on Jan. 10, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung spent 2023 dealing with various legal problems, some quite extraordinary.

Indeed, the mere act of calling in the head of the major opposition party for questioning was unprecedented.

The DP chief is implicated in multiple cases, including the infamous Daejang-dong development scandal, where he allegedly amassed a 40 billion won slush fund through profits generated through apartment construction.

As Seongnam's mayor then, he is accused of approving the development scheme's structure, which allegedly funneled exorbitant profits to private developers led by former journalist Kim Man-bae.

His first trial on the Daejang-dong development scandal began in October. The trial is consolidated with similar cases, including the Wirye and Baekhyeon-dong development projects, which transpired during his tenure as Seongnam's mayor.

The DP chief is also accused of making alleged quid pro quo deals with major Korean businesses like Naver and Doosan for sponsoring Seongnam's football club.

The DP chief has been on trial since March for purportedly lying during the 2022 presidential election.

This includes his denying knowledge of a Seongnam city employee crucial to the Daejang-dong project, who accompanied him on an 11-day overseas trip.

He is also accused of falsely accusing the Park Geun-hye administration of pressuring him and Seongnam to lift regulations on developing an apartment complex in Baekhyeon-dong.

The DP chief is also under investigation for allegedly transferring money to North Korea illegally through an underwear company, supposedly in an attempt to procure an invitation to North Korea. If so, this would violate local law and constitute a clear violation of UN sanctions against North Korea.

Lee and his wife are also currently subjects of a probe over the alleged improper use of the Gyeonggi government’s credit card. The investigation focuses on their purchasing of personal items using Gyeonggi taxpayer money, including Japanese shampoo and takeout sushi.