A civic group has filed a criminal complaint against Lee Jae-myung and Presidential Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom regarding the announcement of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix’s semiconductor cluster investment plan in the Honam region. [Photo = Yonhap News]

A civic group has filed a criminal complaint with the prosecution against Lee Jae-myung and Presidential Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom regarding the investment plan for a semiconductor cluster in the Honam region by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.

The civic group, the Citizens’ Committee for Livelihood Protection, announced on the 28th that it had filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against the President and Chief Kim, charging them with abuse of power, coercion, extortion, and violations of the Public Official Election Act and the Political Parties Act, as well as acting as joint principals in these offenses.

“Arm-twisting coercion on large corporations”… Likened to the past Mir and K-Sports Foundation scandal

The committee strongly criticized the investment plan for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix’s Honam semiconductor cluster, scheduled to be announced by the presidential office on the 29th, stating, "They twisted the arms of corporations to threaten and coerce them into investing in a specific region."

Furthermore, citing the meetings of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won on June 19th and Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong on the 25th with the presidential office, the group claimed, "This raises reasonable suspicion that these were not normal discussions but rather joint acts of threat and coercion through abuse of power."

In particular, the group likened the current situation to the scandal during the Park Geun-hye administration, which involved raising funds from large corporations for the establishment of the Mir and K-Sports Foundations.

“Fortifying political strongholds ahead of the August national convention”… Allegations of election interference

The committee also drew attention to the timing of this investment announcement, which comes just ahead of the Democratic Party’s national convention in August.

According to the complaint, the group criticized the move as "an intention to solidify the Democratic Party’s support base in Honam by attracting corporations that generate massive economic effects," adding that "it is a clear case of election interference intended to have a significant impact on the upcoming party leadership election, in which candidate Kim Min-seok, known as the President’s confidant, is running."

Accordingly, the committee explained that it filed the complaint because the President and Chief Kim are co-principals who violated the Public Official Election Act and the Political Parties Act.

“Socialist notions like semiconductor excess profit dividends… Trust in the rule of law broken”

The complaint also included criticism of the presidential office's policy direction. The committee characterized Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom’s earlier remarks regarding "national dividends from semiconductor excess profits" as a "socialist idea that invited a stock market crash and public criticism."

The group further pointed out that a public-private joint investment plan worth hundreds of trillions of won was hastily prepared just two months after Lee Jae-myung attempted to clarify the remarks as referring to "excess tax revenue" following public backlash.

Kim Soon-hwan, Secretary-General of the committee, urged, "Such inappropriate behavior leads to a weakening of national competitiveness and suppresses the free management of large corporations, ultimately bringing humiliation to the public," adding, "Regardless of rank or position, there must be a prompt and thorough investigation followed by strict punishment in accordance with a zero-tolerance policy."

Donation account for the Citizens’ Committee: Post Office 010108-01-014472

Account holder: Citizens’ Committee for Livelihood Protection

Reporter Lim Yo-hee