‘Baekhyun-dong Investigation Dismissal’ Real Estate Agent Receiving 1.3 Billion Won Reduced to 3 Years Imprisonment in 2nd Trial

A real estate developer accused of receiving more than 1.3 billion won in bribes from a private contractor involved in the Baekhyeon-dong development project to influence an investigation was given a reduced sentence in the appellate court.

Seoul Central District Court, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Lee Chang-hyung) on the 29th overturned the original sentence of 4 years imprisonment for Lee Mo (69), who was charged with violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (accepting bribes for mediation), and sentenced him to 3 years imprisonment. The court also ordered the confiscation of approximately 1.336 billion won.

The court stated, “Lee received large sums of money from Jeong Ba-ul, chairman of Asia Developer, through various methods over a period of more than a year, exhibiting typical behavior of a legal and political broker,” and added, “This significantly undermined the fairness of law enforcement agencies’ official duties and the general public’s trust.”

The court further noted, “He has a history of multiple criminal convictions, and despite having been sentenced to imprisonment for violating the Attorney-at-Law Act by accepting money while flaunting his connections with politicians, he committed similar crimes again, indicating poor criminal character,” but also said, “The defendant has admitted all facts and is remorseful. The original sentence imposed on the defendant was somewhat heavy and unjust,” explaining the reason for the reduced sentence.

Lee was arrested and indicted on charges of receiving 1,336,160,000 won in multiple installments from Chairman Jeong, who was under investigation for alleged preferential treatment in the Baekhyeon-dong development case, from May 2022 to June last year. Investigations revealed that Lee extorted money by claiming he would talk to the Minister of Justice or the Prosecutor General to cover up the case.

Meanwhile, former government officials introduced by Lee to Chairman Jeong to influence the investigation are also on trial. Lawyer Lim Jeong-hyeok, a former high-ranking prosecutor, was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with a 3-year probation in the first trial on the 22nd, and lawyer Kwak Jeong-gi, a former police superintendent, is currently undergoing his first trial.