Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung, center, enters the Seongnam branch of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, Gyeonggi Province, to answer questions as a suspect in a bribery scandal, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps

Lee Jae-myung slams prosecution for being 'politically motivated'

By Nam Hyun-woo

Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), said he was sorry to his fellow DPK lawmakers and supporters late Tuesday evening after being quizzed at the prosecutors' office.

"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting here," he told DPK members who were waiting for him for several hours outside the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office in Gyeonggi Province. "I faithfully explained to them (about the suspicions)."

A crowd gathered in front of the prosecution's office. Lee was greeted by his supporters who had been waiting for him for several hours there. His opponents were also present and yelled profanities at him.

Lee paused a moment before he resumed his prepared speech as the two opposing sides were engaged in a war of words.

"There seems to be an answer regarding my future. They will indict me. I got that feeling all during the investigation," he told his supporters. "The truth will be revealed. I saw the pieces of evidence presented by the prosecution, but none of it was convincing."

Lee left the scene without taking any questions from the assembled crowd.

He had been questioned about his alleged involvement in a bribery scandal related to Seongnam FC, a football club run by Seongnam, a city just south of Seoul, when he served as mayor.

With the probe appearing to be at a critical juncture in his political career, Lee said he will "confidently stand up against" the investigation, because he "never did anything wrong" and "there is no reason to avoid it."

Lee accused the prosecution of being "politically motivated," claiming that he is a victim of entrapment by his enemies.

The DPK chairman appeared at the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office at 10:30 a.m. to be questioned as a suspect in the Seongnam FC scandal.

Prosecutors suspect that Lee, who served as Seongnam mayor from 2010 to 2018, was involved in the scandal in which companies such as Doosan E&C and Naver provided 17 billion won ($13.7 million) to sponsor the football club between 2016 and 2018. In return, the city has been accused of granting business favors to the businesses, such as issuing construction permits.