YNA Reveals List of Six Members in 'Hwacheon Daeyu 5 Billion Club'... Parties Involved Protest

"List of People to Receive Money from Hwacheon Daeyu"
6 Individuals Including Former Supreme Court Justice Kwon Soon-il and Former Special Prosecutor Park Young-soo

Park Soo-young, a member of the People Power Party, is questioning the 'Daejang-dong development suspicion' during the audit of the Office for Government Policy Coordination held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on October 1, 2021. Photo by National Assembly Press Corps [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] The People Power Party, which is advocating for the introduction of a special prosecutor related to the ‘Daejang-dong development scandal,’ continued to pressure Gyeonggi Province Governor and ruling party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung on the 6th. Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, sought to expand the frontlines through an outdoor protest, including a one-person demonstration on the day. Additionally, People Power Party lawmaker Park Soo-young revealed the so-called ‘50 Billion Promise Club’ list, which includes individuals who were promised to receive up to 5 billion won from Hwacheon Daeyu. Park claimed that this list appeared in a recording submitted to the prosecution by accountant Jeong Young-hak, the owner of Cheonhwa-dongin No. 5. The People Power Party seized on the fact that the figures in the ‘50 Billion Promise Club’ have close ties with Governor Lee as a point of attack.

According to what Park disclosed at the National Assembly’s Political Affairs Committee audit on the 6th, the figures appearing in the recording include former Supreme Court Justice Kwon Soon-il, former special prosecutor Park Young-soo, lawmaker Kwak Sang-do, former Prosecutor General Kim Soo-nam, former Incheon District Prosecutor General Choi Jae-kyung, and a Mr. Hong. It is alleged that these individuals, like Byeong-chae, the son of former People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Sang-do, were promised amounts reaching 5 billion won from Hwacheon Daeyu. In response, former Prosecutor General Kim’s side stated, "This is completely unfounded," and announced plans to take strong legal action.

Park said, "In conversations with Kim Man-bae, Yoo Dong-gyu, and Jeong Young-hak, the names of six people who were promised 5 billion won each came up," and also raised suspicions of lobbying involving the chairman and members of the Seongnam City Council. He added, "Among these people, some have received the money, some promised but did not receive it due to the ‘Daejang-dong gate’ scandal breaking out. There are reports that some hastily wrote promissory notes to disguise loans and then returned the money." Park emphasized, "A prompt investigation by the special prosecutor and verification of the flow of funds through the Financial Intelligence Unit are necessary. It must be revealed whether there was large-scale lobbying." The six individuals mentioned held key positions during the Park Geun-hye administration but, according to a People Power Party official, "are known to have maintained close ties with Governor Lee until recently," raising suspicions.

Meanwhile, the People Power Party leadership is accelerating efforts to urge the introduction of a special prosecutor. On the afternoon of the same day, Leader Lee held a ‘Press Conference Urging a Special Prosecutor for the Lee Jae-myung Daejang-dong Gate’ and planned to gather public opinion by walking from the National Assembly through Gwanghwamun Square to the Blue House fountain. The Democratic Party strongly opposed this, calling it a political offensive. Floor leader Yoon Ho-jung warned, "The public will not tolerate the ruling opposition party prioritizing political strife over people’s livelihood."

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