Former Labour Minister Kim Moon-soo accuses Lee Jae-myung of Being “Chief and Final” Obligation for Daejang-dong Scandal
SEOUL,November 17,2025 - After a 15-day silence on Facebook,former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo launched a sharp critique of president Lee Jae-myung,directly blaming him as “the chief and final person responsible for the Daejang-dong crime.” The post, published around 4:25 pm today, comes amidst renewed scrutiny of Lee Jae-myung’s ongoing legal battles following the abandonment of an appeal in the Daejang-dong case.
Kim Moon-soo, who ran against Lee Jae-myung in the last presidential election, detailed his accusations in a lengthy Facebook post, asserting that Lee Jae-myung, while serving as Seongnam Mayor, held sole responsibility for key decisions related to the controversial urban progress project. specifically, Kim Moon-soo stated Lee Jae-myung was responsible for “designating, establishing, notifying, and revising Daejang-dong as an urban development zone,” as well as “designating and supervising Kim Man-bae and his gang as project implementers,” and “inspecting and notifying completion of construction” – all actions dictated by the ‘Urban Development Act.’
Beyond the Daejang-dong incident, Kim Moon-soo characterized the current political climate as an ”unprecedented disaster in the history of the world,” criticizing attempts by the government and ruling party to reshape the legal landscape. He specifically referenced efforts to abolish the Prosecutor’s Office, questioning how a nation could allow a suspect facing five trials to possibly dismantle the institutions meant to hold him accountable.
“What exactly is a nation?” Kim Moon-soo wrote, questioning the legitimacy of a “Democratic Party” that he alleges remodels courts, abolishes the Prosecutor’s Office, and even investigates the cell phones of public servants.
The post follows Kim Moon-soo’s earlier November 1st Facebook post, titled ‘Innocent in election, guilty in defeat. Is this the rule of law?’ which addressed his own recent referral to the prosecution on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act. He was investigated after the Democratic Party of Korea filed a complaint regarding his distribution of business cards to voters at GTX-A Suseo station on May 2nd while a preliminary candidate. While initially receiving a warning from the National Election commission, the case was later escalated to the prosecution.
Background: The Daejang-dong development scandal centers around allegations of corruption and illicit enrichment related to a land development project in Seongnam, Gyeonggi province, during Lee Jae-myung’s tenure as mayor. the case has been a major political flashpoint in South Korea, fueling intense debate over corruption and accountability. Kim Moon-soo’s accusations represent a significant escalation of criticism from a prominent political figure who directly challenged Lee Jae-myung for the presidency.
