DP leader Lee showed up at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office with some 20 DP lawmakers
Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), appeared for questioning by prosecutors on Jan. 10 over his involvement in a bribery scandal surrounding the Seongnam FC, a football club, in Seongam City, Gyeonggi Province when he was the city mayor.
Chairman Lee showed up at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office with some 20 DP lawmakers and read a five-page statement.
In the statement, Lee said, "It is unacceptable to regard Seongnam city officials' and my own sincere efforts in the interest of citizens as a crime. This summons is a politically motivated trap and I will stand up and face it.”
He continued to say, "It is an attempted judicial coup to revive a case that was dropped as groundless after several years of investigation. This is a targeted investigation to eliminate a political opponent."
Some 400 supporters gathered around the office chanting Lee's name, while about 300 members of conservative groups called for his arrest.
The case is that Lee attracted more than 16 billion won in donations from companies between 2016 and 2018 when he was the owner of Seongnam FC while serving as Seongnam City Mayor, and these companies received convenience such as building permits or change of land use. Currently, Chairman Lee is suspected of giving bribes to a third party in this case.
It marks the first time Lee has appeared for questioning since he had been elected the biggest opposition party leader in August.
Lee has cried foul against the probe, claiming it is a politically motivated attempt to remove him and suppress the main opposition.