Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, who was once considered a close aide to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, but turned against him in the second half of last year, will appear as a 'witness' at Lee's trial on the 31st. This will be their first face-to-face meeting since the Daejang-dong development and preferential treatment allegations surfaced.
Lee is currently on trial for charges including making false statements that he did not know the late Kim Moon-gi, former Head of Development Division 1 at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, who was involved in the Daejang-dong development project, during his time as mayor of Seongnam.
According to the legal community on the 29th, at 10:30 a.m. on the 31st, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 34 (Presiding Judge Kang Kyu-tae) will conduct witness examination of former Director Yoo at the continuation of Lee’s trial on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.
◆ "Lee’s mask will be removed" Will Yoo Dong-gyu present new evidence?
The prosecution plans to prove the close relationship between Lee and Kim through Yoo, the first witness in this case. Accordingly, attention is focused on any new statements Yoo might reveal beyond what he has already disclosed.
Initially, when the Daejang-dong corruption investigation began, Yoo remained silent about his connection to Lee. However, after the inauguration of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration last year and the reopening of the investigation, he changed his stance and continued to make 'expos? statements' targeting Lee and his close aides.
Yoo accompanied Lee and Kim on a business trip to Australia. He also revealed that he cooperated with the prosecution because he felt betrayed by Lee’s statement that he did not know Kim. During the witness examination, Yoo is expected to provide detailed accounts of the golf games he played with Lee and others.
On the 17th, when Lee’s trial and Yoo’s trial related to the Daejang-dong case were held simultaneously, Yoo told reporters, "(Lee) should stop lying," and raised his voice saying, "I think his mask will be removed." He emphasized, "During the Australia trip, two two-person carts were rented; I used one, and Kim personally drove the other to assist Lee," adding, "I will testify about all of this in court."
On the same day, Lee’s defense attorney pointed out in court, "There is a peculiar point in the photos and videos of the defendant and Kim Moon-gi taken together. The two never made eye contact," emphasizing, "This easily reveals the nature of the relationship between the defendant and Kim." In response, Yoo stated, "This is unacceptable," and "Lee could not have not known Kim at all," pointing out that "(Kim) directly reported everything to Lee."
◆ "Prosecution coaxed Yoo Dong-gyu" What is Lee Jae-myung’s response strategy?
Lee, who denies the charges, claims that during his time as mayor, he went on overseas business trips 16 times, usually accompanied by about ten Seongnam city officials, so it is true that he does not specifically remember Kim. At a previous hearing, Lee’s side said, "Yoo Dong-gyu was the one assisting Lee. It is not easy for Lee to remember Kim Moon-gi, who came to assist Yoo."
Currently, Lee’s side is focusing on Yoo’s change in attitude and questioning the credibility of his statements. Lee’s closest aides, including Jeong Jin-sang, former Political Coordination Officer at the Democratic Party leader’s office, and Kim Yong, former Deputy Director of the Democratic Research Institute, have also argued in related trials that "Yoo was coaxed by the prosecution," claiming that the prosecution’s indictment is politically motivated. Based on Yoo’s testimony, the prosecution has indicted Kim and Jeong on charges of detention.
However, Lee himself is expected to avoid directly responding to Yoo’s statements during the trial on the 31st. In previous hearings, Lee remained silent except when confirming personal details. He also did not answer most questions from reporters while entering and leaving the courthouse.
On the 31st, only the prosecution’s main examination will take place. Cross-examination of Yoo by Lee’s side is scheduled for the 14th of next month.
Earlier, on December 22, 2021, when Lee was the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, he was indicted for publicly making false statements about Kim Moon-gi, saying, "He was a subordinate staff member whom I did not know during my time as mayor," in a broadcast interview. Kim was found dead in the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation office the day before Lee’s statement. He was a key figure in the Daejang-dong development project allegations and was under investigation by the prosecution.
Whether Lee knew Kim is considered a crucial clue to identifying the so-called 'upper echelon' in the Daejang-dong case. The prosecution believes Lee received multiple face-to-face reports from Kim on major issues of the corporation, including the Daejang-dong development project, while serving as mayor of Seongnam.
A photo taken in January 2015 during an overseas business trip to New Zealand, showing Lee Jae-myung, then mayor of Seongnam and current leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, together with former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu and the late Kim Moon-gi, former Development Division 1 Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation (left), and a photo of Lee and Kim holding hands. / Photo by People Power Party
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