Yoo Dong-gyu: "Received bribes to pay for Jeong Jin-sang and Kim Yong's drinks"

Changes in Statements During Prosecutor Testimony

Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, testified in court that he began accepting bribes to pay for the drinking expenses of Jeong Jin-sang, former political coordination officer in the office of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Kim Yong, former deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute.

Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 12th, Yoo appeared as a witness at a trial held by the Criminal Division 23 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jo Byung-gu) and stated that around January or February 2013, near the Lunar New Year, he received 20 million won that Nam Wook did not request. This amount is separate from the 352 million won in bribes listed in the indictment when the prosecution charged Yoo in October 2021.

Yoo said, "Jeong Jin-sang and Kim Yong would always put their drinking expenses on my tab, and in 2010 alone, it amounted to 40 to 60 million won, which was a huge burden," adding, "Kim Yong openly asked if it would be possible to make some money once the corporation was established, and everyone talked about needing money."

During the prosecution's investigation, Yoo testified that he gave 10 million won each to Jeong and Kim from the 20 million won, but later changed his statement, saying he did not clearly remember giving the money to Kim.

Yoo said, "I can say 100% that I gave it to Jeong Jin-sang, but for Kim Yong, it's about 80% yes and 20% no," adding, "If not Kim Yong, I would have spent it myself, but I did visit Kim Yong's office several times to deliver 10 million won, so the timing is unclear."