Special Investigation Team: "Assemblyman Kim Ordered Official to Reduce Development Charges"
Businessman Who Provided "Vehicle Lease Payments" to Former Prosecutor Kim Sangmin Also Indicted
People Power Party lawmaker Kim Seongyo appeared as a suspect before the Min Joonggi Special Investigation Team at the KT Building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the 26th of last month regarding the 'Yangpyeong Gongheung District Development Favoritism Allegation' involving First Lady Kim Geonhee's family, responding to reporters' questions. Photo by Yonhap News
Assemblyman Kim Seongyo of the People Power Party has been indicted in connection with allegations of preferential treatment in the development of the Gongheung District in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, involving the family of First Lady Kim Geonhee.
On December 24, the Min Joonggi Special Investigation Team indicted Assemblyman Kim without detention on charges of breach of trust under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. Also indicted on the same charges were Choi Eunsun, the mother of First Lady Kim, Kim Jinwoo, her brother, and two Yangpyeong County officials.
Additionally, the special investigation team charged Choi and Kim with occupational breach of trust and embezzlement. Kim was also charged with evidence concealment. Local newspaper reporter A was indicted for violating the Attorney-at-Law Act.
According to the special investigation team, Assemblyman Kim is accused of instructing a Yangpyeong County official in charge of development charges to reduce the urban development project fee during the Gongheung District development process, at the request of Choi and Kim, resulting in approximately 2.2 billion won in benefits for ESI&D Co., Ltd., operated by Choi and others, and causing equivalent losses to Yangpyeong County.
The team also found that Choi and Kim conspired to lobby Yangpyeong County officials through Reporter A, a local journalist who wielded significant influence during the project’s approval process, in order to secure preferential treatment. They allegedly provided a corporate credit card to Reporter A, who was not an employee of the company, allowing him to use about 5.94 million won, and paid him approximately 243 million won in salary, thereby embezzling company funds.
Furthermore, the team believes that Kim concealed a painting by artist Lee Ufan, which served as evidence of a violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act by former prosecutor Kim Sangmin, at his mother-in-law’s residence.
Meanwhile, on the same day, the special investigation team also indicted a person surnamed Kim without detention for violating the Political Funds Act, alleging that he donated about 42 million won, including vehicle lease payments, to former prosecutor Kim.
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