Kim Man-bae's Side: "Knew About Jung Young-hak's Recording and Deliberately Included False Information"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Regarding the recorded conversation known to contain lobbying circumstances, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu, Kim Man-bae, claimed on the 9th, "Accounting officer Jeong Young-hak was aware that he was being recorded, so he deliberately included false information."

Kim Man-bae's side stated in a press release that "Most of the various lobbying allegations based on the recordings are false."

Kim's side explained, "As the development profits increased more than expected, investors competitively exaggerated the anticipated costs that should have been deducted in advance when distributing profits among themselves, and it appears that Jeong Young-hak recorded and circulated that content," adding, "The anticipated costs that Jeong Young-hak himself claimed have been deleted and edited while distributing this."

Regarding the dividends of Cheonhwa Dongin No. 1, which Hwacheon Daeyu owns 100%, they emphasized, "There were some reports that Kim mentioned half of it belonged to 'that person,' but this is groundless," and stressed, "Cheonhwa Dongin No. 1 is owned by Kim." However, attorney Jeong Min-yong, related to this case, submitted a written statement to the prosecution on the same day stating that "Former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu repeatedly said that Cheonhwa Dongin No. 1 was his and that he had entrusted it to Kim under a borrowed name." Attorney Jeong worked as the head of the strategic investment team under former Director Yoo and was involved in the Daejang-dong development project.

The special investigation team at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, investigating the lobbying and preferential treatment allegations related to the Daejang-dong development, plans to question Kim about the actual owner of Cheonhwa Dongin No. 1 and lobbying suspicions involving political and business circles if he appears as scheduled on the 11th.