'Lee Public Official Election Act' Continuation Trial with Witness Yudonggyu
Attention on Additional Evidence and Testimonies
Supporters and YouTubers Gather in Front of Court, Tensions Rise
Two Eggs Thrown Toward Lee
The 'courtroom face-off' between Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, began on the 31st. The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 34 (Presiding Judge Kang Gyu-tae) conducted the continued trial of Lee, who was indicted on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, and proceeded with the witness examination of former Director Yoo in the afternoon session.
Former Director Yoo is the 'first witness' in Lee's case involving alleged false statements, including denying knowledge of the late Kim Moon-gi, former Head of Development Division 1 at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, during Lee's tenure as mayor of Seongnam.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is accused of spreading false information under the Public Official Election Act, is attending a trial held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 31st. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
On the morning of the trial, around 9:29 a.m., former Director Yoo arrived at the courthouse to attend the morning session concerning the preferential treatment and allegations related to the Daejang-dong development. He told reporters regarding the face-to-face meeting with Lee, "I have nothing special to say, but I hope (Lee) stops lying." Regarding the previous day's search and seizure of former Special Prosecutor Park Young-soo, who was mentioned as one of the 'Daejang-dong 5 billion won club' members, Yoo stated, "As I said before, I believe the facts will be revealed one by one."
Former Director Yoo was once a close aide to Lee but turned his back when the investigation into Daejang-dong intensified. This courtroom face-off is the first since the Daejang-dong development and preferential treatment allegations surfaced.
Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, is appearing as a witness at the trial for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, held on the 31st at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
Outside the courthouse, about two hours before the trial began, Lee's supporters and opposing YouTubers gathered, engaging in heated confrontations. The opposition shouted slogans such as "Arrest Lee Jae-myung" and "Get rid of the Gaeddal (devoted female supporters)." Lee's supporters, wearing blue hats, vests, and bags, countered with chants like "Watch your words" and "Investigate President Yoon Seok-youl first." Tensions escalated, leading to a physical altercation between a conservative YouTuber and Lee's supporters.
Five minutes before the trial started, Lee arrived at the courthouse later than former Director Yoo. When asked by reporters about his stance on the first face-to-face meeting with Yoo and about Yoo's claim that Lee and the late Kim boarded a yacht separately during a trip to Australia, Lee remained silent and did not respond. Someone threw two eggs toward Lee, but he was not hit.
The prosecution requested former Director Yoo as the first witness to prove the close relationship between Lee and the late Kim. Therefore, attention was focused on any new statements Yoo might make beyond his previous disclosures.
Initially, when the Daejang-dong corruption investigation began, former Director Yoo remained silent about his connection to Lee. However, after the inauguration of the Yoon Seok-youl administration last year and the reopening of the investigation, he changed his stance and continued to make 'expos? statements' targeting Lee and his aides.
Former Director Yoo accompanied Lee and the late Kim on the trip to Australia. He 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 plans to provide detailed accounts of the time he played golf with Lee and others.
On this day, only the prosecution's direct examination of former Director Yoo took place, with Lee's defense cross-examination scheduled for the 14th of next month.
On the 17th, former Director Yoo told reporters, "I hope (Lee) stops lying," raising his voice, and added, "I believe the mask will be removed." He emphasized, "During the Australia trip, we rented two two-person carts; I used one, and Kim personally drove the other to assist Lee. I will testify about this in court."
On the other hand, Lee denies all charges. He claims that he went on overseas trips 16 times as mayor, usually accompanied by about ten Seongnam city officials, and therefore does not specifically remember Kim. Lee's side argues, "Yoo Dong-gyu was the one assisting Lee. It is not easy for Lee to remember Kim Moon-gi, who came to assist Yoo."
Lee's side has raised suspicions that former Director Yoo, who was arrested and indicted on charges related to the Daejang-dong allegations but released in October last year, was coerced by the prosecution. Lee's closest aides, former Democratic Party Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-sang and former Deputy Director of the Democratic Research Institute Kim Yong, also claimed in related trials that the prosecution politically indicted Yoo after coercing him. They argue that Yoo's testimony is unreliable.
Previously, on December 22, 2021, when Lee was the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, he was indicted for publicly disseminating false information by stating in a broadcast interview that he did not know Kim, who was a subordinate employee, during his tenure as mayor. Kim was found dead in the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation office the day before Lee's statement. Kim was a key figure in the Daejang-dong development project allegations and was under investigation by the prosecution at the time.
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