DP releases names, faces of prosecutors involved in Lee Jae-myung investigations

The liberal Democratic Party (DP) revealed the names and photos of 16 prosecutors conducting investigations related to its chief Lee Jae-myung, a move immediately lambasted by the rival People Power Party (PPP).

Democratic Party Rep. Park Chan-dae, left, a member of the party’s supreme council, reveals the names and faces of prosecutors who are conducting investigations related to DP Chairman Lee Jae-myung at a party meeting in Gangwon Friday. [NEWS1]

The liberal Democratic Party (DP) revealed the names and photos of 16 prosecutors conducting investigations related to its chief Lee Jae-myung, a move immediately lambasted by the rival People Power Party (PPP).

The DP was found to have distributed an online newsletter containing a list of senior prosecutors investigating Lee, including those at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, to party members and regional committees last Friday.

This comes after prosecutors summoned DP Chairman Lee last week for questioning over suspicions that he received bribes through the Seongnam FC football club while serving as the city's mayor.

"Some 60 prosecutors from eight divisions are going all-in on investigations related to Chairman Lee," said DP Rep. Park Chan-dae, a member of the party's supreme council, as he revealed the list in a local party meeting in Gangwon.

He said that the "majority of prosecutors who are in charge of the investigation are a part of the so-called Yoon Suk-yeol division."

The newsletter created by the DP's public relations division was entitled "The investigation into Chairman Lee Jae-myung: Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, 8 divisions (60 prosecutors)." Lawmakers who are a part of the DP's committee on fighting the prosecution's political suppression also posted on the DP's YouTube channel and official social network services.

This online flier listed the names and profile photos of 16 prosecutors from the two prosecutors' offices, including those from the Seongnam branch. Under the names of some prosecutors, the details of their prior investigations are included, such as investigatons into violations of the Public Official Election Act, the Daejang-dong and Wirye development projects, Lee's son's "illegal gambling" and Lee's wife's "misappropriation of corporate cards."

Last Thursday, the DP confirmed that party chief Lee has been asked to appear at the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office on Wednesday over third-party bribery allegations related to corporate donations to Seongnam FC.

The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office is investigating allegations that the Seongnam city government granted favorable business treatment to six entities, including Doosan Engineering & Construction and Naver, in return for over 16 billion won ($11.2 million) transferred to the Seongnam FC from 2016 to 2018.

Before being elected as a lawmaker representing Incheon's Gyeyang-B District in June, Lee served as Seongnam mayor from 2010 to 2018 and Gyeonggi governor from 2018 to October 2021.

Lee's political allies and acquaintances have also been investigated and arrested over a corruption scandal surrounding the Daejang-dong land development in Seongnam during his time as mayor.

The PPP spokesperson, Yang Kum-hee, in turn accused Lee and the DP of setting "attack targets" through making a list of prosecutors.

"Lee and the DP ordered to set the coordinates for a massive attack on prosecutors related to the case," said Yang in a statement Sunday.

"The dark history of this investigation and its prosecutors must be recorded," DP spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a statement Sunday. "The prosecution is conducting an unprecedented investigation to suppress the opposing party."

Kim said initially only 16 prosecutors were revealed but added that the DP plans to continue to publicize the the names and faces of 150 prosecutors involved in investigations into both Lee and former President Moon Jae-in.

"All investigations and indictments conducted by prosecutors are public affairs that are carried out under the names of individual prosecutors," said Kim, in defense of the DP's move to reveal the list.

The Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office has yet to receive a response from Lee over the summons notice, according to legal sources Monday.

Lee said in a press conference at the National Assembly Monday afternoon that he will not be able to answer to the prosecutor summons Wednesday.

He said it would be “difficult” to appear for prosecutor questioning because of prior engagements scheduled for that day.

“It's hard to understand the prosecution's behavior, but I'll do my best to answer to the investigations,” he said, noting that the Seongnam FC case previously ended without charges.

Lee reportedly is scheduled to visit South Jeolla on Tuesday and Gwangju on Wednesday, the day of the summons. If he doesn't heed to the summons, a written inquiry could be another option.

PPP spokesperson Yang on Monday accused Lee of going on an "escape tour" and said that the DP chairman "claims to listen to the people's livelihood but completely ignores the public's suspicions against him that are pouring out every day."

On Monday, PPP interim chief said the DP's prosecutor list is "in fact inciting all party members to fight against the prosecution," calling the move "bizarre."

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon told reporters Monday that the DP's disclosure of the list of prosecutors investigating Lee "undermines the rule of law."

He accused the DP of "mobilizing the party to set as targets public officials who are performing their duties lawfully in an attempt to avoid personal criminal issues and inciting them to be bullied."

He added, "That doesn't mean that the criminal charges that already exist will disappear, nor will the judicial system be stopped."

A view of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in Seocho District, southern Seoul, Monday morning. Last week, Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung received a summons notice from the prosecution for Wednesday in relation to bribery allegations related to Seongnam FC. [YONHAP]

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