Lee Jae-myung's Side on 'Yoo Dong-gyu Bribery' Allegation... "If True, Responsibility as Manager"

Support for Joint Investigation Headquarters... Opposition to Special Prosecutor

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, is attending an emergency forum on the issues and improvement measures of the development profit recovery system held at the Central Veterans Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 29th. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The camp of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, stated that if the allegations of bribery against former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu related to the Daejang-dong development project are true, he will take responsibility as a manager.

Earlier, former Director Yoo has been suspected of designing the shareholder composition and profit distribution of the special purpose company (SPC) 'Seongnam's Garden,' which was responsible for implementing the Daejang-dong development project since Lee was elected mayor of Seongnam in 2010.

On the 30th, Kim Byung-wook, head of the functional division of Lee’s campaign, responded to reporters' questions about Lee’s responsibility regarding the allegations against former Director Yoo at an online press briefing, saying, "If there is any illegal act, Lee will agree to take basic responsibility as a manager," adding, "It is difficult to answer based on assumptions."

He continued, "Further comments are difficult, and I think they will refrain from making statements until the investigation progresses."

Regarding the relationship between Lee and former Director Yoo, he explained, "Former Director Yoo served as the head of the Bundang remodeling association and showed great interest in the Bundang urban regeneration project, holding forums and gaining recognition for his abilities, which led to working together with Seongnam City."

On the afternoon of the 29th, prosecutors who completed a search and seizure at Hwacheondaeyu office in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, are moving the seized items. Photo by Yonhap News

Woo Won-shik, the general election campaign chairman of Lee’s camp, said regarding accountant Jung Young-hak, the owner of 'Cheonhwa Dongin' No. 5, submitting recorded conversations between Hwacheon Daeyu major shareholder Kim Man-bae and former Director Yoo to the prosecution, "There is nothing in particular that I have heard or grasped."

Woo added, "Since the Daejang-dong project itself was decided in advance, there was no way to know about the private profit distribution structure, nor was there a need to know."

On the same day (30th), Lee’s camp requested, "We ask related agencies such as the prosecution, police, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Financial Supervisory Service to immediately form a joint investigation headquarters and conduct a swift and resolute investigation," but opposed the introduction of a special prosecutor, stating, "The special prosecutor’s investigation results will not come out before the presidential election."

Furthermore, Lee’s camp continued to assert that the Daejang-dong allegations are a 'People Power Party gate.' Woo urged, "Lee Jun-seok, who knew in advance that (Assemblyman Kwak Sang-do’s son) received 5 billion won, must explain why he concealed it," and added, "He also said he knows about 3 to 4 others who received large sums besides Kwak’s child, so he should immediately clarify."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.