'Daechang-dong Embezzlement' Lee Jae-myung Assigned to Different Court Panel from Jeong Jin-sang and Yoo Dong-gyu

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was indicted in connection with the Wirye and Daejang-dong development preferential corruption and the Seongnam FC sponsorship fund allegations, will be tried by a different panel of judges than the 'Daejang-dong gang.'

Lee Jae-myung, Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea Photo by Yonhap News

The Seoul Central District Court announced on the 23rd that Lee's case has been assigned to the Criminal Division 33 (Chief Judge Kim Dong-hyun).

Previously, cases involving Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of planning at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, and Kim Man-bae, a private businessman, who were indicted on charges including breach of trust related to Daejang-dong, are being heard by the Criminal Division 22 (Chief Judge Lee Jun-cheol).

Lee's closest aides, Jeong Jin-sang, former director of political coordination at the party leader's office, and Kim Yong, former deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute, are being handled by the Criminal Division 23 (Chief Judge Jo Byung-gu).

The charge against Lee for violating election laws by spreading false information ahead of the presidential election is being heard by the Criminal Division 34 (Chief Judge Kang Gyu-tae).

According to the court, Lee's case was assigned to the specialized corruption crime division through electronic allocation without being assigned to the panel handling related cases, following consultations among the presiding judges. Although the trial of the Daejang-dong gang, currently heard by Division 22, shares many overlapping issues and evidence with Lee's case, the trial has been ongoing for over a year, making it practically difficult to consolidate the cases.

Lee was indicted the previous day on charges of approving a Daejang-dong development project structure favorable to private businessmen during his tenure as mayor of Seongnam, causing a loss of 489.5 billion KRW to Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, and leaking confidential information through aides to businessmen, enabling them to gain 788.6 billion KRW.

Additionally, as the owner of Seongnam FC, he is charged with providing conveniences such as building permits and land use changes in exchange for sponsorship funds totaling 13.35 billion KRW from four companies, and with demanding operating funds from companies in return for selling Seongnam city-owned land.