Yoo Dong-gyu: "Kim Moon-gi is a sensitive person; how could he have endured... I am only heartbroken"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, who was arrested and indicted while under prosecution for his central role in the Daejang-dong development preferential treatment and lobbying allegations, expressed sorrow over the extreme choice made by Kim Moon-gi, Head of Development Team 1 at the corporation, who worked alongside him.

On the 23rd, Yoo, through his lawyer, stated, "Mr. Kim neither received any money nor did anything other than working for the corporation, but he is a sensitive person?how could he have endured this?" and added, "I am deeply saddened."

He continued, "Even before my investigation, just being heavily mentioned in the media made me consider suicide," expressing regret, "Mr. Kim must have been overwhelmed by the pressure of the investigation and the burden of disciplinary actions within the corporation, which likely led him to such extreme thoughts."

Yoo and Kim first connected in the late 2000s during the remodeling of an apartment complex in the Bundang area, where Kim was a union leader and Yoo was a construction company employee. After the establishment of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, they respectively served as Planning Director and Head of Development Project Team 1, jointly advancing the Daejang-dong development project.

Initially, the Development Project Team 2 was primarily responsible for the Daejang-dong development project, but on February 4, 2015, immediately after the Seongnam City Council approved the project's investment feasibility, the responsibility was shifted to Kim’s team under Yoo’s directive.

Meanwhile, Yoo is currently on trial after being arrested and indicted on charges of causing losses amounting to several hundred billion won to the corporation during the Daejang-dong development process, and for promising to receive bribes totaling 70 billion won as compensation for favoring private contractors, with some of the money already received.