"Can Even This Governor's Close Aides Be Clean?" Expressing Concerns
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Amid the growing controversy over preferential treatment allegations in the Seongnam Daejang-dong development, former National Assembly Secretary-General Yoo In-tae criticized Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, saying, "Even if he claims he did not receive a single penny, he cannot be free from responsibility for employing the wrong people."
Former Secretary-General Yoo appeared on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strongest Current Affairs' on the same day and stated, "If Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, was a key figure and participated in profit distribution, that is problematic."
Yoo Dong-gyu served as an aide in Lee’s campaign headquarters during Lee’s Seongnam mayoral election, was a member of the transition committee, and later served as president of the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization. He is considered the so-called key man in the Daejang-dong project.
Former Secretary-General Yoo also commented on Lee’s claim that the Daejang-dong project was promoted as a public development model that could recover a significant portion of the profits, saying, "He said he designed the (Daejang-dong development) plan himself. I believe that Mayor Lee Jae-myung, who declared a moratorium immediately after becoming mayor in 2010, was very cautious and careful," adding, "I want to believe that."
However, former Secretary-General Yoo expressed concern, saying, "Can all of Lee’s close aides and associates be completely clean? That needs to be investigated quickly."
Regarding Kwak Sang-do, an independent lawmaker (formerly of the People Power Party) whose son received 5 billion won in severance pay and other fees from Hwacheon Daeyu, former Secretary-General Yoo said, "It doesn’t make sense," and raised suspicion, saying, "Isn’t it because Kwak Sang-do helped with this project that such payments were made?"
Meanwhile, on the 28th, Lee appeared at a Democratic Party presidential candidate TV debate hosted by SBS and responded to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin by asserting, "If it weren’t for me, 100% of the profits from the Daejang-dong development would have been taken by private business forces colluding with the People Power Party," labeling the Daejang-dong controversy as a 'People Power Party Gate.'
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