Yoo In-tae: "Lee Jae-myung, Yoo Dong-gyu are the biggest obstacles... Even if he is clean, he has heavy responsibilities"

"Whether a close aide or not is a separate issue... Didn't they entrust the task to the person they trust the most?"

Former Secretary General of the National Assembly Yoon In-tae. / Photo by SBS 'Jo Young-jin's News Briefing' capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Regarding the allegations of preferential treatment in the Seongnam Daejang-dong development, former National Assembly Secretary-General Yuin Tae pointed out, "The biggest obstacle for candidate Lee Jae-myung right now is Yoo Dong-gyu."

Former Secretary-General Yoo appeared on SBS's 'Joo Young-jin's News Briefing' on the afternoon of the 25th and said, "Even if he claims to be clean, (the allegations of preferential treatment in the Seongnam Daejang-dong development) carry a heavy responsibility," adding, "The person who pushed through and appointed someone with no experience and who was problematic during the personnel hearing in the assembly, and that person got involved in corruption, that is a significant responsibility of candidate Lee Jae-myung."

Former Secretary-General Yoo said, "Whether he is a close aide or not is a separate issue, but didn't he entrust the work to the person he trusts the most?" He added, "We need to see more about how deeply involved he is in the corruption, but anyway, there is some connection. It is arousing great suspicion."

He continued, "Whether it is true or not needs further examination, but (former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu) was said to have agreed to receive 70 billion won from a private company, so many citizens suspect that it wouldn't be Yoo Dong-gyu's alone," adding, "If the candidate himself received even one won, then he should immediately resign from the candidacy and that would be the end of it, so there is no need for further discussion. However, even if he claims to be completely clean, that responsibility is indeed a heavy one."

Regarding claims that former Director Yoo is a close aide of candidate Lee, former Secretary-General Yoo said, "Usually, a close aide to politicians is a political comrade. But Yoo Dong-gyu and (candidate Lee) were not figures who consulted on political matters," explaining, "The Democratic Party received help from Yoo in Bundang, a region where they were weak, and at that time, candidate Lee trusted him considerably, and when he was governor of Gyeonggi Province, Yoo even held an important position as president of the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization. But if that person is involved in corruption, the political responsibility is by no means light."

Regarding the opposition party's demand for a special prosecutor, former Secretary-General Yoo said, "If many citizens and the opposition party do not trust the prosecution's investigation results, then it can only go to a special prosecutor," but added, "If we start with a special prosecutor now, it will cause significant delays, so even if a special prosecutor is appointed, we should first observe the prosecution's investigation and then discuss the matter."