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Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myeong is being investigated by the prosecution for the first time since taking office as party leader in connection with the suspicion of sponsoring Seongnam FC.
Let's go to the prosecution first.
Reporter Kang Min-woo, is the investigation into CEO Lee Jae-myeong still ongoing?
[Reporter
] Yes, it is.
Lee Jae-myung, the representative of the Democratic Party, arrived here at around 10:30 am, at the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Prosecutor's Office.
The investigation, which started around 11 am, has now continued for about 6 hours.
Prior to his appearance, Representative Lee revealed his position on the prosecution's investigation.
[Lee Jae-myeong/Democratic Party Representative: I am angry at their attitude that it does not matter even if professional football dies, local autonomy is broken, and active administration collapses because they are only obsessed with removing Lee Jae-myeong.
] He said that he was conducting a manipulation and target investigation after setting the conclusion of his prosecution in advance, and that it was meaningless to explain and persuade the prosecution the truth.
In front of the Seongnam branch office, there was a chaotic situation at one time as more than 1,000 people, including Lee's supporters and members of conservative groups, gathered.
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Does the prosecution see that the donations made by companies to Seongnam FC are 'third party bribes'?
[Reporter
] Yes, it is.
What the prosecution applied to Lee Jae-myung is the charge of 'third party bribery'.
It is related to the sponsorship of Seongnam FC, a soccer team that CEO Lee was the owner of during his time as Seongnam Mayor.
The prosecution found that companies such as Doosan Group, Naver, and Cha Medical Center made improper solicitations, such as licensing issues, to Lee, then mayor of Seongnam, from 2015 to 2018, and in return, the companies paid donations to a third party, namely Seongnam FC. 's judgment.
The prosecution is in a position that it is possible to prove the charges based on official documents obtained during the investigation process.
However, CEO Lee said that the advertisement cost was normally executed without any cost, and that it was an active administration for the citizens of Seongnam and Seongnam FC, a civic club, and they did not take any personal profit, so they are fighting with the logic of why it is illegal.
As the positions are sharply opposed, the general consensus is that the investigation today (10th) will take quite a long time. There are also views.