South Korean opposition leader indicted for corruption

The Democratic Party left South Korea's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party after admitting defeat in the election at the party's headquarters in Seoul early on March 10, 2022. PHOTO POOL AFP SEOUL - South Korean prosecutors have indicted opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday on corruption charges in a $1 billion property development scandal dating to his previous stint as a mayor, the Yonhap news agency said.

Lee, chair of the main opposition Democratic Party, who lost in the election to President Yoon Suk Yeol last year, faces several charges including corruption, breach of trust and conflicts of interests.

A 18-month investigation into the 1.5 trillion won $1.15 billion construction project has resulted in a request to be arrested by the Prosecutors. The motion to waive immunity granted to lawmakers was passed by the House last month, where Lee's party holds a majority.

Prosecutors said Lee colluded with a group of private property developers when he was mayor of Seongnam, south of Seoul, to help them rake in more than 800 billion won $611.5 million from the project, while inflicting losses of nearly 490 million won on the city.

He was accused of receiving or demanding more than 18 billion won from four companies in bribes in order to bankroll a financially strapped pro football club in the city in exchange for administrative favors.

Yonhap said that the prosecutor also indicted Jeong Jin-sang, one of Lee's closest aides, who was arrested in November over the scandal.

There were no calls to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

Lee, who was Seongnam mayor from 2010 -- 18, denied any wrongdoing and accused prosecutors of fabricating charges out of political motives.

Lee told senior party members that the indictment was a predetermined outcome, but they just wanted to buy time for political shows. I will do my best to uncover the truth now that the ball is in the court. The Democrats are facing criticism that the party abused its majority power to prevent his arrest even as more voters want to elect a new chief, as a result of Lee's indictment.

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Nearly 48 percent of respondents said Lee should resign, and about 45 percent opposed, according to a poll by R&Search on Wednesday. According to a Gallup survey last month, 57 percent supported removing immunity from arrest, while 27 percent said it is necessary to fight political persecution.