Yoo Dong-gyu and Jeong Jin-sang Clash Loudly Over Testimony That Jeong Jin-sang Knew About 'Jeong Young-hak Recording' Risk

In relation to the Daejang-dong development corruption case, Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, and Jeong Jin-sang, former political coordination officer at the Democratic Party representative office, clashed loudly in court.

Former Seongnam Urban Development Headquarters Director Yoo Dong-gyu. Photo by Jin-hyung Kang aymsdream@

On the 5th, Yoo appeared as a witness at the trial of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and others regarding the Daejang-dong allegations, held at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 33 (Presiding Judge Kim Dong-hyun). He testified about a phone call he had with Jeong on September 28, 2021, the day before he was subjected to a search and seizure.

On this day, the trial was held separately only for the defense related to Jeong's charge of evidence destruction instruction, and Lee did not attend.

Yoo stated that on the day of the call, while waiting for an interview with a media company at the Suwon Convention Center, he received a call from Jeong saying, "Jung Young-hak took everything and went into the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office." This is interpreted as referring to accountant Jung Young-hak's appearance before the prosecution on the 26th of the same month, where he submitted the so-called 'Jung Young-hak recordings.'

During the call, Yoo testified that Jeong asked, "How much does Jung Young-hak know?" and Yoo replied, "He probably knows quite a lot. It’s serious." He added, "If the recent contents come out in the recordings, everything related to Kim Yong will also be revealed, so I’m worried." Then, when Yoo expressed concern, saying, "What if the fallout affects me?" Jeong responded, "This is serious, this is fate."

When Jeong's lawyer asked, "Does that mean Jeong Jin-sang was unaware of the 'Jung Young-hak risk' before that conversation?" Yoo raised his voice, saying, "Why would he not know? If he didn’t know Jung Young-hak, why would he mention that Jung Young-hak went to the prosecution?" When Yoo continued to argue, "No, Jeong Jin-sang also knows (the details)," the lawyer shouted, "Why do you keep dragging Jeong Jin-sang into everything?" Yoo immediately responded, "Why are you trying to stop me from speaking?"

As the two sides exchanged loud voices, the court suggested a brief recess to calm the situation.

Yoo also explained that he had another phone call with Jeong just before the search and seizure the next day after this call. When Jeong's lawyer asked about the specific content of that call, Yoo explained, "At first, Jeong Jin-sang said, 'Go see Kim In-seop,' then changed to, 'No, Baek Jong-seon would be better,' and while they were discussing this, the prosecution rang the doorbell."

Jeong's lawyer pointed out that Yoo had testified during the prosecution investigation that Jeong scolded him over the phone. Yoo responded, "I had not yet fully disclosed everything about Jeong Jin-sang to the prosecution," and insisted, "You can consider today’s testimony as the truth."