[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, legal affairs specialist] On the 9th, the prosecution conducted a search and seizure at the residence and office of Jeong Jin-sang, the Political Coordination Officer of the Party Representative's Office, known as a close aide to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.
The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Eom Hee-jun), which is investigating the Daejang-dong case, announced that it is conducting a search and seizure at Jeong's residence this morning in connection with allegations of violation of the Anti-Corruption Act and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery).
The prosecution is also in the process of executing search warrants on Jeong's offices, including the Party Representative's Secretariat within the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, and the Party Representative's Secretariat within the Democratic Party headquarters.
Jeong, known as Lee's "right-hand man," is suspected of receiving several tens of millions of won in bribes from private developers involved in the Daejang-dong development project, including lawyer Nam Wook.
The prosecution is reported to have secured testimonies from former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu and lawyer Nam, who were previously indicted, stating that Lee delivered 50 million won during the 2014 local elections when he was re-elected as mayor of Seongnam, and 40 million won in 2020 to Jeong.
Additionally, testimonies indicate that Jeong was continuously entertained with alcohol and received expensive gifts during holidays from these individuals since 2013.
He is also accused of instructing evidence destruction just before the prosecution conducted a search and seizure on former Director Yoo last September. In a recent media interview, former Director Yoo claimed that he threw his mobile phone out the window under Jeong's orders at that time.
Jeong first established ties with Lee during Lee's time as a lawyer and later served as Seongnam City Policy Director and Gyeonggi Province Policy Director. During the last presidential election, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff in the candidate's election campaign committee.
Previously, when the Daejang-dong development allegations surfaced last year and former Director Yoo was mentioned as a close aide, Lee denied this and instead named Jeong and Kim Yong, Deputy Director of the Democratic Research Institute who was indicted the day before on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, as his close aides.
Meanwhile, investigations regarding Jeong are also underway at the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office concerning allegations related to 'Seongnam FC sponsorship funds.'
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