Opposition Leader Indicted in Corruption Scandal

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on Wednesday indicted main opposition Minjoo Party leader Lee Jae-myung on charges of breach of trust involving W489.5 billion and taking W13.4 billion in bribes through a third party (US$1=W1,308).

Already last September prosecutors indicted Lee on charges of giving false information by claiming he did not know Kim Moon-ki, the head of Seongnam Development Corporation, who committed suicide, amid a probe into massive land development scandals in the city.

Lee cannot be arrested because the National Assembly, which is dominated by his party, refused to lift his parliamentary immunity. But he will be compelled to attend his trials every week.

Lee insists he is innocent of all charges and accuses prosecutors of launching a politically motivated probe.

Lee remains under investigation for other alleged corruption cases in land development projects when he was mayor of Seongnam from 2010 to 2018.

The latest charges relate to accusations that he funneled bribes from developers through Seongnam Football Club, which was owned by the city, and bilked the city out of legitimate earnings through underhand dealings with the private sector.