Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation Team, Lee Jun-seok’s Suspect Status… Homes and Office Raids
The Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation Team (Special Prosecutor Min Jung-ki) investigating the allegations against First Lady Kim Geon-hee has designated Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the Reform Party, as a 'suspect' in connection to the 'Myeong Tae-kyun nomination interference allegations' and has begun forced investigations.
The Special Investigation Team is carrying out simultaneous raids on Lee’s home in Sangye-dong, Nowon District, Seoul, the home in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, and his office at the National Assembly to grasp key details of the case.
Allegations of Nomination Interference and Raids
On the 28th, the Special Investigation Team commenced investigations at Lee's residences and office to secure evidence. This forced investigation comes just two days after Lee returned from the United States.
The search warrant reportedly states that Lee is suspected of "obstruction of duty" for improperly interfering with the nomination process in collaboration with former President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife during the local elections and by-elections on June 1, 2022.
Former President Yoon and his wife are accused of guaranteeing the nomination of former lawmaker Kim Young-sun in exchange for receiving free opinion polls from Myeong Tae-kyun, who is known as a political broker. Whether Lee, as the then-leader of his party, was involved in this is a key point of investigation.
Evidence Revealed in Messages from Professor Ham Sung-deuk and Myeong Tae-kyun
On the 25th, the Special Investigation Team detected indications of Lee’s involvement in the nomination process from the messages exchanged between Professor Ham Sung-deuk, the head of the Political Science Graduate School at Kyonggi University, and Myeong.
On April 28, 2022, Myeong sent a text to Professor Ham stating, “Madam, please protect Kim Young-sun, who is running in Changwon’s Uichang District. I will be a servant to you and the President,” adding, “I am the one who recommended myself, Myeong Tae-kyun, as the nomination committee chairman.” Professor Ham responded, “Lee Jun-seok called Yoon Sang-hyun regarding the Kim Young-sun issue.”
Kang Hae-kyung also revealed to reporters before the Special Investigation Team's questioning on the 16th, "(Even though Yoon Sang-hyun was the chairman of the nomination committee) I understand that the then-leader Lee Jun-seok was also involved."
After summoning Yoon for questioning and conducting a rigorous investigation, the swift entry of Lee's status as a suspect and the searches could indicate that 'decisive evidence' has been captured.
Controversy Over the Chilbulsa Meeting and Future Investigations
The Special Investigation Team plans to analyze the evidence secured during this raid while confirming additional indications that on February 29 last year, Lee met with Myeong, former lawmaker Kim Young-sun, and Cheon Ha-ram, the floor leader of the Reform Party at Chilbulsa Temple in Hadong, Gyeongnam, to discuss nomination issues.
At that time, former lawmaker Kim was reportedly demanding the first proportional representation spot from the Reform Party while exposing interference in the nomination process based on call records and messages with First Lady Kim Geon-hee.
First Lady Kim is under suspicion for supporting former chief prosecutor Kim Sang-min’s candidacy in Uichang ahead of the April 10 general elections. Eventually, Kim Young-sun was eliminated from the nominations, leading to interpretations that Kim might have attempted a nomination deal with competing parties.
The Special Investigation Team intends to calibrate the schedule for summoning Lee based on the results of this raid and focus on clarifying the entire scope of the nomination interference allegations.
Image source: Search warrant seal / News1, Lee Jun-seok Reform Party leader / News1, News1
