hankyoreh

Lee Sang-deuk

Prosecutors fired back at former president Lee Myung-bak’s politically charged accusations that their Jan. 22 raid on the office of former National Assembly member and Lee’s older brother Lee Sang-deuk, 83, in connection with National Intelligence Service “special activity fund” allegations was part of a “targeted investigation for the purpose of political retaliation.”

But the former president, who previously told prosecutors to “ask me” in connection with the charges, gave no official response to the prosecutors’ hardline move in extending the investigation to include all three Lee brothers, including Lee Sang-eun.

Historically, Lee Sang-deuk has been more than just a “big brother” to Lee Myung-bak. He has had a notable political career in his own right: elected for six terms in the National Assembly and serving as Deputy Speaker and secretary general for the Hannara Party (a forerunner of the current Liberty Korea Party). He also served as a political adviser for his younger brother, who entered politics earlier and had a weak presence within his party.

During the 2007 presidential election, Lee Sang-deuk was part of the “group of six” that played a leading role in getting Lee Myung-bak elected. While former lawmaker Chung Doo-un and others called for the “big brother’s line” to step down after Lee came to office, they ended up being the ones cast aside, ushering in an era where “everything went through the brother.” It was not until the “lame duck” later stages of Lee Myung-bak’s administration that prosecutors began a full-scale investigation into the figure who had become known as the administration’s “King Sang,” or “Grand Prince of Yeongil” after the brothers’ hometown.

Oldest brother Lee Sang-eun previously became the target of a raid by prosecutors over charges regarding ownership of the company DAS. Lee Myung-bak’s camp appears not to have foreseen the prosecutors resuming their onslaught against Lee Sang-deuk, who is in his eighties and already facing a Supreme Court hearing on different bribery charges.

This marks the third time that Lee Sang-deuk has faced investigation by prosecutors, after a case involving illegal savings bank political funds that resulted in a fourteen-month prison sentence and the POSCO bribery charges he is currently on trial for. The increasingly beleaguered Lee Myung-bak gathered with around 20 of his advisers in his office in Seoul’s Daechi neighborhood to consider response measures. Associates are reported to have asked for Lee’s views in connection with claims that Won Sei-hoon personally provided Lee Sang-deuk with special activity funds because he wanted to stay on as director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

“Around that time, Won Sei-hoon said he wanted to quit as NIS director, and I encouraged him to stay on in consideration of inter-Korean relations and other factors. It’s ridiculous to suggest that he requested [the funds] because he wanted to stay on as NIS director,” Lee was reported by associates as replying.

Faced with questions from reporters as he emerged from the office following the meeting, Lee only said, “A lot of rain is falling,” before boarding his car and leaving.

The Democratic Party went on the attack over the corruption allegations surrounding the Lee administration and his family.

“Now even former President Lee’s brother has faced a search and seizure over charges of receiving NIS funds,” said party spokesperson Kim Hyun, adding that this “only adds to the allegations that former President Lee spent NIS special activity funds as though they were pocket money.”

“Former President Lee needs to apologize and state the truth to the public,” Kim urged.

Meanwhile, the Liberty Korea Party appeared to back off on the issue. In a New Year’s press conference that day, party leader Hong Joon-pyo described Lee Myung-bak as “someone who defected from our party.”

“There is no response from the party [to the prosecutors’ investigation],” he said.

On the prosecutors’ investigation of Lee Sang-deuk, Hong said, “This is the third time. It’s a matter for the public to decide.”

By Kim Nam-il and Song Ho-jin, staff reporters

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