South Korea opposition chief indicted for misuse of public funds
Already embroiled in multiple legal battles, Lee Jae-myung’s indictment could jeopardise his anticipated bid for the presidency in 2027
Lee, chair of the Democratic Party, is already facing four other trials including for bribery and other charges mostly tied to a US$1 billion property development scandal. His legal battles have cast a cloud over his political fate and could jeopardise his expected bid to contest the next presidential race.
Prosecutors indicted Lee on breach of trust charges, accusing him of misusing some 106 million won in taxpayers’ money during his 2018-21 stint as governor of Gyeonggi province, just south of Seoul, according to Yonhap.
The charges also include accusations that he allowed his wife Kim Hye-kyung to use a government vehicle for private reasons while labelling it as official usage, Yonhap said, citing the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office, which filed the charges.
Funds were also spent to pay for pricey meals, groceries or laundry for Lee’s family, but documented as expenses for meetings with public employees or overtime pay, Yonhap said.
