Prosecutors Conduct Search of Acquaintance's Home for Yudonggyu's 'Old Mobile Phone'

Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] The prosecution, investigating allegations of preferential treatment and corruption in the Daejang-dong development project, has launched a search and seizure operation to secure the old mobile phone of Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation (52, currently detained).

On the 15th, the dedicated investigation team of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (led by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Tae-hoon) announced that they are conducting a search and seizure of mobile phones and other items at the residence of an acquaintance of former Director Yoo.

The prosecution stated that, regarding this search and seizure operation, they coordinated cooperative investigation measures in advance through consultation with the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency.

The prosecution explained that on the 11th, they confirmed the address of former Director Yoo's acquaintance through inquiries, and on the 12th, during the investigation of former Director Yoo, they identified the location of the mobile phone and subsequently requested a search and seizure warrant from the court.

The prosecution added that they plan to cooperate sincerely with the police during the execution process as well.

The mobile phone the prosecution is trying to secure is known to be the one used by former Director Yoo around 2014-2015, when the Daejang-dong development project was underway.

Earlier, the police had secured a mobile phone that former Director Yoo threw out of a window during a search and seizure operation. That mobile phone was the one he had replaced two weeks prior to the search and seizure.

Meanwhile, the prosecution has been conducting a search and seizure at Seongnam City Hall since the morning of the same day.

The prosecution is searching departments within Seongnam City Hall, including the Urban Housing Bureau, Education, Culture and Sports Bureau, Cultural City Project Group, and Information and Communication Division, to secure materials related to the permits and approvals of the Daejang-dong development project.

As criticism arises that the prosecution's search and seizure at Seongnam City Hall was conducted too late, concerns about the prosecution's inadequate investigation are growing following the dismissal of the arrest warrant for Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu, the previous day.

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