People Power Party Files Complaint Against Lee Jae-myung's Son Over Gambling Funds

On May 31, the People Power Party (국민의힘) announced that it has filed a complaint with the prosecution regarding the source of 232 million KRW in gambling funds linked to Lee Jae-myung's son, Lee Dong-hoo. During a press conference held at the National Assembly, Representative Joo Jin-woo, who leads the party's investigation team into alleged family corruption, stated that Lee Jae-myung's son has a total wealth of only 390,000 KRW and no fixed income, yet he engaged in substantial gambling activities.

The investigation team filed the complaint against not only Lee Jae-myung but also his wife, Kim Hye-kyung, and son Lee Dong-hoo, citing violations of tax evasion laws, anti-money laundering laws, and election laws. Joo emphasized that if the son used his parents' money for gambling, it could constitute tax evasion due to gift tax limits. He raised questions about the origins of the cash, stating, "There is no explanation regarding when, where, or how the funds were gifted."

He further noted that despite being given ample opportunity to clarify the situation, Lee Jae-myung has remained silent, which raises suspicions about the financial transactions involved. The investigation team also indicated that there are signs of habitual gambling behavior by Lee Dong-hoo, suggesting a potential gambling addiction.

They revealed that on March 15, 2020, the day of his grandmother's funeral, Lee Dong-hoo engaged in illegal gambling for approximately 11 hours and posted online about using his gambling winnings to visit a massage parlor. The following day, he shared a review filled with profanity about the massage parlor.

Moreover, the investigation team pointed out that even on the day Lee Jae-myung officially declared his candidacy for the 20th presidential election on July 1, 2021, Lee Dong-hoo continued to gamble. On November 3, 2021, while Lee Jae-myung was discussing disaster relief funds on Facebook, his son deposited 11.55 million KRW into his gambling account nine times.

The investigation team concluded that the evidence of gambling is substantial, citing an incident from July 30, 2020, where Lee Dong-hoo reportedly gambled for about 40 hours, depositing a total of 5.43 million KRW into gambling sites. They described this behavior as indicative of severe gambling addiction rather than a mere lapse in judgment.

The team asserted that scrutiny of a presidential candidate's family is not merely a private matter but a public standard that reflects the qualities and judgment of a national leader. They called for Lee Jae-myung to provide a clear stance on his son's actions, which have sparked public outrage.