Yoo Dong-gyu Indictment: "Offered Nam Wook 'Business Rights if You Help Establish the Construction Company'"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution indicted former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu, stating in the indictment that he proposed to lawyer Nam Wook, who was promoting the private development of Daejang-dong in the past, that "if you help establish the corporation, you will be granted the public-private development project rights," and received bribes.

The prosecution also concluded that after the corporation was actually established and the public-private development was promoted, Yoo promised to provide various conveniences to Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management (Hwacheon Daeyu) during the project operator selection process and agreed to receive 70 billion won in return.

According to the eight pages of Yoo’s indictment, partially disclosed on the 23rd, while working as the Planning Director of Seongnam Facilities Management Corporation in 2012, he proposed to lawyer Nam, "If you help establish the corporation, you will be selected as a private business operator and allowed to develop Daejang-dong jointly with the public sector." Yoo is known to have been introduced to Nam through Choi Yoon-gil, then chairman of the Seongnam City Council.

After the ordinance to establish the corporation was passed in February 2013, led by former Chairman Choi, Yoo told lawyer Nam, "You can plan the Daejang-dong development project sections as you wish. If there is any problem with purchasing land, I will solve it," and requested, "Please provide 30 million won within two weeks."

In response, lawyer Nam, accountant Jung Young-hak, and Mr. Jung Jae-chang each raised money and delivered 35.2 million won to Yoo from April to August of that year at places including a Gangnam room salon. The prosecution regarded this money as having quid pro quo and applied bribery charges under the Special Act.

However, the indictment did not specify what kind of help lawyer Nam and others provided for the establishment of the corporation. The crucial part of assistance in the corporation’s establishment process, which constitutes the charge, was omitted. The indictment did include that after the corporation’s establishment, the project operator selection process was biased in favor of Hwacheon Daeyu.

The contents of the indictment appear to rely mainly on recordings by accountant Jung and audio files submitted by lawyer Nam, as well as statements from the parties involved. However, due to the lack of concrete physical evidence and the fact that Yoo and Mr. Kim completely deny these charges, a fierce legal battle is expected in court.