Opposition Targets 'Yoo Dong-gyu-Lee Jae-myung'... "Not Just a Matter of Moral Management Responsibility"

Lee Jae-myung to Launch Daejang-dong Offensive at National Audit Session

Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, is delivering opening remarks at the National Assembly's audit countermeasures meeting held on the 1st. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok and Park Joon-yi] As allegations of corruption surfaced against Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation and a key figure in the 'Daejang-dong scandal,' the opposition parties have emphasized his connection to Lee Jae-myung, the leading figure of the ruling party and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, launching a campaign to attack Lee. The opposition points out that former Director Yoo was a close aide to Governor Lee and argues that if the allegations prove true, Lee cannot be exempt from responsibility.

Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at a National Assembly audit countermeasure meeting on the 1st, "Governor Lee denies that former Director Yoo was a close aide, but during the time when attention was focused on the Daejang-dong development, a media report introduced former Director Yoo as a close aide to Governor Lee." He added, "If the reports about the existence of recordings are true, it raises a reasonable suspicion that Governor Lee was involved in illicit money transactions to raise funds for the presidential election."

Yoon Chang-hyun, a People Power Party lawmaker active in the Pangyo-Daejang-dong Gate Truth Investigation Task Force, stated on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "the legal owner of Cheonhwa-dong-in is Kim Man-bae, but we received a tip that former Director Yoo actually took the profits." This suggests that former Director Yoo provided special favors to private companies to secure actual profits. In this case, Governor Lee bears managerial responsibility. Governor Lee also said in a TV debate among Democratic Party primary candidates the previous day that although former Director Yoo is "not a close aide," he would "take political responsibility if involved in wrongdoing."

Regarding this, a member of the Daejang-dong TF told this paper in a phone interview, "Former Director Yoo was Governor Lee's right-hand man, wielding full authority during urban development and also working in the campaign. It is heartless to now claim he was not a close aide," adding, "Would you entrust Seongnam City's greatest achievement to someone who is not a close aide?" The official emphasized, "Former Director Yoo is not just a tail but a limb attached to the body. If the allegations are revealed, it will not end with mere moral managerial responsibility."

Additionally, the People Power Party is focusing on former Supreme Court Justice Kwon Soon-il's multiple meetings with Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu. Ha Tae-kyung, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, said on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs,' "The relationship with former Justice Kwon is an even bigger bombshell," and accused, "There is evidence that Governor Lee attempted to lobby or negotiate trials through Kim Man-bae and Kwon Soon-il."

Park Soo-young, a People Power Party lawmaker active in the TF, also raised issues with the project design itself. Governor Lee has argued that the high profits of the private company Hwacheon Daeyu were "a fair reward for risk-taking." In response, Park analyzed the business plans of the consortium involved at the time and pointed out, "The location conditions were good, demand was high, so the project was evaluated as highly feasible with low risk." He also noted that land compensation, permit risks, and expected returns could all have been minimized through Seongnam Urban Development Corporation. Park emphasized, "The risks that Governor Lee claims the private sector took were already resolved from the project's bidding stage."

On the 1st, Cho Seung-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, attended the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee's audit of the Ministry of Science and ICT held at the National Assembly. After protesting against the placards held by members of the People Power Party demanding a special prosecutor investigation related to the Daejang-dong scandal, he is leaving the audit hall. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Meanwhile, starting from today’s National Assembly audit, the People Power Party plans to disclose whistleblower information related to Governor Lee and the Daejang-dong allegations and launch a focused offensive against the ruling party. A People Power Party official stated, "Since the audit started today, we plan to concentrate our efforts to turn this into the 'Lee Jae-myung Gate.' During the audit, lawmakers have immunity privileges, so we can disclose all information reported to the party. Through this, we will strongly pressure Governor Lee and the ruling party."

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