Late Kim Moon-gi's Brother: "I Do Not Expect an Apology from Representative Lee Jae-myung"

First Interview with Kim Daesung
"Lee's Guilty Verdict Eases Family's Burden"

The younger brother of the late Kim Moon-gi, former head of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, Kim Dae-sung, said, "I do not expect an apology from Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea," and added, "I only hope for a fair judgment from the court."

On the 21st, the Chosun Ilbo reported on an interview with Kim Dae-sung conducted the previous day. Kim had avoided media contact following his brother’s death but gave his first interview after the first trial verdict was announced. Regarding Lee’s sentence of one year in prison with a two-year probation for violating the Public Official Election Act in the first trial, Kim questioned, "Would receiving an apology from him heal the family’s wounds?" and expressed, "I hope this verdict brings some comfort to the family’s hearts."

Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung is wearing a stern expression at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News

He continued, "On the day the verdict was announced, my mother went to my brother’s grave and wept bitterly," and said, "As a parent who has lost a child, how can one express such feelings in words?" He also mentioned that a few days before Lee’s first trial sentencing, his mother suddenly said, 'Moon-gi has come,' and hurriedly went out to the door wearing traditional Korean socks (beoseon).

Kim Moon-gi, who was the key figure in the 'Daejang-dong project,' took his own life on December 21, 2021, as the prosecution’s investigation into the Daejang-dong scandal intensified. The Dong-A Ilbo reported that Kim Dae-sung said, "The day before my brother took his life, he called me crying, saying, 'The corporation’s audit team is going to put me on the disciplinary committee,'" and added, "He had never been to a police station in his life, but he had to visit the prosecution several times, which completely broke his spirit. Then, to be disciplined by the company he trusted?how could his heart not be shattered?" expressing his brother’s sense of injustice.

On December 24, the day of Kim Moon-gi’s funeral, Lee Jae-myung, who was then the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, released a video titled 'Christmas Carol of Jae-myung C and Hye-kyung C.' The video showed Lee dressed as Santa Claus dancing. Kim Dae-sung said, "More than saying 'I don’t know Kim Moon-gi,' the real wrongdoing was dressing up as Santa and dancing," and expressed outrage, "The family was shocked, and my mother watched the video, broke down in tears, and beat her chest."

Previously, Lee claimed he had no acquaintance with Kim Moon-gi, saying things like "He was someone I didn’t know during my time as mayor" and "He was just an employee under Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation." Amid this, a photo surfaced showing Lee, Kim Moon-gi, and Yoo Dong-gyu on a business trip to Australia and New Zealand in January 2015, when Lee was mayor of Seongnam, sparking controversy. However, Lee’s side stated after the photo was released that "He was just an accompanying subordinate agency employee, so the candidate (Lee Jae-myung) did not know him." Lee was found guilty on the 15th for false statement charges related to his claim of not knowing Kim Moon-gi during the trial.

A photo of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, together with the late Kim Moon-ki, former director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, and Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of the headquarters.

Kim Dae-sung also said that Lee did not send any floral wreaths or condolences to Kim Moon-gi’s funeral. He said, "Eun Soo-mi, then mayor of Seongnam, came and held my sister-in-law (Kim Moon-gi’s wife), so I told her to leave." Kim also shared updates on Kim Moon-gi’s family, saying, "My sister-in-law was unable to do anything after my brother passed away but is now working to forget," and "The wounds are so deep that I cannot even bring myself to talk to her." Kim Moon-gi’s son is preparing for employment after graduating from university, and his daughter is known to be a high school student. The son testified in court in July last year during Lee’s trial at the Seoul Central District Court, stating, "There is no way he (Lee) didn’t know my father," and, "My father would take calls in his room during meals, late at night, and even on weekends, and when asked who it was, he said, ‘The mayor of Seongnam.’"

Kim Dae-sung ended by saying, "If only he had said one word that my brother was a hardworking employee and a responsible department head... if only he had said that one word..." and was unable to continue speaking.