Lawmakers from South Korea's main opposition People Power Party held a rally in Seoul on Tuesday to denounce the prosecution's decision not to appeal a high-profile development corruption case linked to President Lee Jae Myung. The protest arises amid controversy over alleged government interference in missing the appeal deadline. The case involves allegations of irregularities in a Seongnam real estate project during Lee's time as mayor.
On Tuesday morning, around 40 lawmakers from the People Power Party gathered in front of the Supreme Prosecutors Office to protest the prosecution's decision not to appeal the Daejang-dong development corruption case. The move followed the missed deadline last Friday, with opposition figures alleging government interference.
PPP floor leader Song Eon-seog condemned acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok at the rally, accusing him of "selling out the 70-year pride of the prosecution to petty criminals" to gain favor with the presidential office and justice ministry. The lawmakers demanded a parliamentary investigation into the case and the appointment of a special counsel to probe the decision.
Participants planned to head to the Justice Ministry in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, later that day for another rally and to request a meeting with Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho. On Monday, Jung told reporters that President Lee had no involvement in the decision but admitted he had advised the Supreme Prosecutors Office to "decide carefully after considering various circumstances."
The case centers on allegations that obscure private asset firms, including Hwacheon Daeyu, reaped huge profits from a 2015 real estate project in Seongnam's Daejang-dong district while Lee served as mayor. Lee's trial on charges of causing losses to Seongnam Development Corp. was indefinitely postponed after his June presidential victory. In a related trial, former acting president of the corporation Yoo Dong-gyu and Hwacheon Daeyu shareholder Kim Man-bae each received eight-year sentences on October 31 for charges including breach of duty. Three other suspects got terms of four to six years.
By forgoing the appeal, the appellate court cannot impose harsher sentences than the lower court's, per the Criminal Procedure Act.