Brother, Brother-in-Law Trouble Lee Myung-bak

Amid growing suspicions that former Seoul mayor Lee Myung-bak might be involved in dubious investments and an illegal amassing of fortune by his older brother, Lee Sang-eun, and brother-in-law, Kim Jae-jeong, Lee spoke from his heart that he felt choked because of his brother and brother-in-law, according to a source close to him.

Lee is suffering a good deal of embarrassment because “DAS,” the auto parts company in which his brother and brother-in-law hold a major share, has been the target of various allegations. Those include whether DAS was involved in BBK’s investment fraud, whether they exploited information on the government’s development plan when they built apartment complexes in Cheonho-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, and whether there was any influence peddling in purchasing real estate.

According to the source, Lee visited his older brother and urged him to “make public all his fortune and explain how he amassed it.” However, his older brother is reported to have responded with anger, saying, “Revealing my assets has nothing to do with your being president. That’s none of your business.”

mhpark@donga.com