Lee Jae-myung, opposition bloc clash over Daejang-dong scandal at parliamentary audit

Oct 19, 2021, 08:49 am

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Gov. Lee Jae-myung answers questions from lawmakers during a parliamentary audit at the provincial government’s office ein Suwon on Oct. 18, 2021./ Photographed by Song Eui-joo

AsiaToday reporter Jeong Geum-min

The parliamentary audit, attended by the ruling Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung as Gyeonggi governor, was heated Monday with suspicions about preferential treatment for the Daejang-dong land development project. The ruling and opposition parties had a fierce debate over the snowballing Daejang-dong scandal, but there was no ‘decisive shot’ from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), that was determined to put up a fight against Lee. The PPP failed to present new evidence, and merely rehashed existing claims and media reports.

The Gyeonggi governor strongly rejected the allegations raised by opposition lawmakers during a National Assembly audit of the provincial government held in Gyeonggi Province.

“Even if the city wants to replace the sidewalk block worth 1 million won, it can’t do it without the approval of its governor,” said PPP lawmaker Park Soo-young. “There is plenty of evidence that former Seongnam Development Corp. Acting President Yoo Dong-gyu was Gov. Lee’s close aide although he doesn’t admit it.”

In response, the governor denied, saying his close aide is not the one named Dong-gyu. “The PPP clearly prevented public development of the Daejang-dong region and the PPP pressured the state-owned LH during the LH audit so it gives up public development,” Gov. Lee said.

Gov. Lee actively refuted the allegations by preparing a set of panels when PPP lawmakers asked a barrage of questions on Lee’s alleged connection to Hwacheon Daeyu. Lee presented a panel showing estimated revenue share in cases of private, joint, and public development. He also presented a panel showing changes in the housing sale price index.

In response, the PPP presented fact-checking data, saying, “Gov. Lee is deceiving the people with false answers.”

After the audit, the PPP issued a statement claiming that five statements made by Gov. Lee were not true.

The Democratic Party showed strong support for Gov. Lee, who has turned into a presidential candidate. “It reminds me of the suicide note ghostwriting case of Kang Ki-hoon involving Kwak Sang-do. The truth will come out anyway,” said DP lawmaker Park Chan-dae.

“I have served as a local government head, and I am aware that local governments cannot be involved in such joint development process,” said Minjoo Party lawmaker Min Hyung-bae. “The Daejang-dong project will rather serve as an opportunity to highlight Gov. Lee’s purity,” he said.

“The opposition bloc has not presented any key evidence during the audit. It only showed Gov. Lee’s clearness,” an official from Gov. Lee’s presidential campaign said in a phone interview with told AsiaToday.

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