The Democratic Party of Korea on November 7 rebutted allegations from the People Power Party regarding Justice Minister nominee Lee Yong-cheol's involvement in the Daejangdong scandal, stating that such accusations do not absolve them of responsibility.
According to Yonhap News, spokesperson Lee Yong-woo criticized claims that Lee gave high scores during the interview for the appointment of Yoo Dong-kyu, a key figure in the Daejangdong corruption allegations, as the head of the planning department at the Seongnam Urban Management Corporation in 2010.
Lee argued, "The interview sheet presented by the People Power Party was created during the selection of the head of the planning department in 2010. How does the fact that he participated in Yoo's hiring interview serve as evidence that he was involved in the selection of private developers for the Daejangdong project five years later?"
He added, "Accusations do not provide immunity. The People Power Party should be aware that they could face serious legal consequences for damaging the nominee's reputation with false claims."
Lee also highlighted the nominee's qualifications, citing his experience as a legal secretary during the participatory government and as the first deputy and head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, asserting that he is suitable for the role of Minister of Justice.
He stated, "In establishing the separation of investigation and prosecution, the nominee's extensive experience and philosophy, rather than outdated partisan discourse, will be advantageous in institutional reform and the operation of newly established agencies, as well as in his commitment to prosecutorial reform."
Shin Hyun-young, another spokesperson for the Democratic Party, also refuted the allegations on Facebook, asserting that the selection process for the Seongnam Urban Management Corporation's executives and Yoo Dong-kyu's evaluation occurred during a time when the Daejangdong project had not yet been conceived.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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