Prosecutors raid close aid to opposition leader over bribery allegations

Nov 09, 2022, 11:11 am

AsiaToday reporter Lee Seung-wook

Prosecutors have launched a forced investigation into the home of one of main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung’s closest aides Wednesday over bribery allegations.

On November 9, the 3rd Division of Anti-Corruption Investigation Team under the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office sent investigators to the house of Jeong Jin-sang, a vice chief of staff to Lee, to seize evidence related to allegations that he received bribes from real-estate developers. Prosecutors are also attempting a search and seizure of Chung’s house as well as his office in the DP building.

Jeong was accused of having received tens of millions of won from the so-called ‘Daejang-dong gang’, that are at the center of a property development corruption scandal at the Daejang-dong district of Seongnam, including Yoo Dong-kyu, former executive of the Seongnam Development Corp. and lawyer Nam Wook.

Prosecutors are said to have secured statements that Jeong received 50 million won during the local elections in 2014 when Lee was re-elected as Seongnam mayor, and 40 million won in 2020.

In addition, Jeong is also accused of serving alcohol and accepting expensive gifts from Yoo since 2013.

Meanwhile, prosecutors indicted Kim Yong, deputy director of the Institute for Democracy and another close aide to Lee, on charges of violating the Political Funds Act.

#prosecutors #raid #Jeong Jin-sang #bribery #Lee Jae-myung