Former Seongnam City Council Chairman Choi Yoon-gil Also Worked at Hwacheon Daeyu

Choi Yoon-gil, former chairman of Seongnam City Council. / Photo captured from Seongnam City Council website

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] It was confirmed on the 6th that Choi Yoon-gil, former chairman of the Seongnam City Council, is currently working at Hwacheon Daeyu, which is at the center of the 'Daejang-dong Development Project Favoritism' allegations.

With lobbying suspicions against Seongnam City and the Seongnam City Council by Hwacheon Daeyu raised during the National Assembly audit, the confirmation of former Chairman Choi's employment at Hwacheon Daeyu is expected to inevitably lead to an expansion of the prosecution's investigation.

On the same day, TV Chosun reported, "It has been confirmed that Mr. Choi, who served as chairman of the Seongnam City Council for two years from 2012 and led the passage of the ordinance establishing the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation in February 2013, is working at Hwacheon Daeyu."

Immediately after the report, Hwacheon Daeyu acknowledged this fact through a statement titled "Hwacheon Daeyu's Position on TV Chosun's Report that Former Seongnam City Council Chairman Choi Yoon-gil is Working at Hwacheon Daeyu."

Hwacheon Daeyu stated, "Choi Yoon-gil has been out of the council for about seven years," and "Since last year, he has been in charge of facilitating resident move-ins and is still working now."

However, Hwacheon Daeyu drew a line by saying, "He is neither an advisor nor a consultant," and "What he did during his council activities is not a matter for consideration."

Regarding whether he received a large performance bonus, they said, "All employees have performance bonus contracts, which vary by position," and "It is difficult to disclose the amount and timing."

Meanwhile, during the National Assembly audit of the Financial Services Commission by the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee on the same day, Park Soo-young, a member of the People Power Party, revealed the list of the 'Daejang-dong 5 Billion Won Group,' who were promised to receive 5 billion won from Hwacheon Daeyu and others.

Park also stated, "Although not 5 billion won, there are also reports that lobbying funds were distributed to the chairman and members of the Seongnam City Council," and "Among these people, some have already received the money, some have not yet received it due to the Daejang-dong gate scandal, some pretended to have borrowed money by hastily writing IOUs and then returned it, and there are additional reports that some are urging for the money quickly."