Yoo Dong-gyu and Kim Guk-il Appointed as Lawyers
Serving as Legal Advisors for Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Development Corporation
Hwacheon Daeyu's Legal Representative is Lawyer Bang Jeong-sook of Law Firm Pyeongsan
Pyeongsan Also Represents Lee Jae-myung in Trial
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] With the detention of former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu, the real showdown to uncover the ‘Daejang-dong preferential treatment suspicion’ is effectively starting now. Yoo’s detention is merely the ‘first button’ for clarifying the suspicions. Building on this, the prosecution is expected to sharpen its focus more keenly on the substance of the case and the higher-ups involved.
Accordingly, the figures implicated in the suspicions are also expected to strengthen their defenses. Their trusted support lies with their lawyers. Most of the individuals related to Daejang-dong have hired ‘prosecutor-turned’ lawyers and are countering the prosecution, drawing even more attention.
Yoo’s legal representation is handled by attorney Kim Guk-il (53, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 24), a former branch chief. Kim is the lead attorney at the law firm YK. He worked as a prosecutor from 1998 to 2020 and is well-versed in prosecution investigation methods. From 2015 to 2017, he served as branch chief at the Namwon branch of Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office, Mokpo branch of Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office, and Goyang branch of Uijeongbu District Prosecutors’ Office. Between September 2011 and July 2012, he worked as a chief prosecutor at Cheongju District Prosecutors’ Office, where he also worked alongside Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo. At that time, Prosecutor General Kim was the deputy chief prosecutor at Cheongju District Prosecutors’ Office and Kim was his direct subordinate.
In addition to his prosecution-related background, Kim is closely connected with Gyeonggi Province, which likely influenced his appointment as Yoo’s lawyer. Over the past year, he served as legal counsel for Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Development Corporation. During this period, he may have also developed a close relationship with Yoo, who was president of Gyeonggi Tourism Organization.
Another ‘key man’ in the Daejang-dong suspicion, Kim Man-bae, who is the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management (Hwacheon Daeyu), is represented by attorney Bang Jeong-sook (54, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 28) from the law firm Pyeongsan.
Law firm Pyeongsan has many connections with Hwacheon Daeyu and Gyeonggi Province. It is led by former Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office chief Kang Chan-woo. Kang was revealed to have provided legal advice to Hwacheon Daeyu, which sparked controversy. Additionally, Pyeongsan formed the legal team for Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung, who faced allegations such as ‘forced hospitalization of his elder brother’ from 2018 to 2020, and responded to prosecution investigations. Due to these ties, Pyeongsan appears to have taken on the current Daejang-dong suspicion case. Attorney Bang is also a former prosecutor. She worked from 1999 to 2007 at Changwon District Prosecutors’ Office, Jinju branch, Seoul Northern District Prosecutors’ Office, and Uijeongbu District Prosecutors’ Office.
However, within the legal community, it is known that she has distinguished herself more in cases involving sexual violence, domestic violence, and child sexual abuse rather than civil or criminal cases, which has drawn attention to the background of her taking on Hwacheon Daeyu’s case and her future course of action. Bang was also seconded to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in 2007.
A legal industry insider said, "Attorney Bang is known for her strong testimony analysis skills in sexual violence cases," adding, "With multiple individuals involved and recordings and testimonies from related parties serving as key evidence, Hwacheon Daeyu may have needed her expertise."
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