"Yoo Dong-gyu Demands 2 Billion Won from Lee Kyung-sun's Funds... Promise of Reward"
Nam Wook, a lawyer representing the private developer of Daejang-dong, claimed that he was asked for 2 billion KRW as 'Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party's presidential primary funds' by former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu in 2021.
On the 28th, Lawyer Nam appeared as a witness at the continuation trial of Kim Yong, former deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute and a close aide of Lee, held at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 23 (Presiding Judge Jo Byung-gu). Although he was indicted along with former Deputy Director Kim and former Director Yoo in this case, he appeared in court that day as a witness.
On that day, Lawyer Nam testified that he responded to former Director Yoo's demand by saying, "I will try up to 1.5 billion KRW," and explained that former Director Yoo decided to receive the primary funds and deliver them to former Deputy Director Kim.
When the prosecutor asked, "Did Lee say that if he became president, former Director Yoo could help with the project you were promoting?" Nam replied, "Yes. He said he could help." He added, "I thought he would help if he became president," and "I secretly hoped he would help."
Lawyer Nam also testified about the circumstances in which former Deputy Director Kim received 100 million KRW from former Director Yoo at the Yuwon Holdings office in 2021. He said, "I saw him enter empty-handed and leave carrying a gray shopping bag with floral patterns," and "I remember it was a department store shopping bag," adding, "So I thought, 'It must be money.'"
Regarding the 'money in the shopping bag,' Lawyer Nam said, "It is separate from the primary funds I gave," and "I understand it is part of the 100 million KRW in cash that Kim Man-bae gave to Yoo Dong-gyu in 2021." He added, "I thought, 'So money is actually being exchanged like this.'"
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