In the 'Daejangdong' recording, "Focus on Mayor's Election"... Evidence of City Council Lobbying Also Found

Prosecutors Play Accountant Jeong Young-hak's Recording in Court

Mr. Kim Man-bae (left) and accountant Jung Young-hak [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] It has been confirmed that the recording file of accountant Jeong Young-hak, a key piece of evidence in the 'Daejang-dong Development Special Favor Allegation' case, contains circumstances in which former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu mentioned his intention to persuade then-Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung. It was also revealed that Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management (Hwacheon Daeyu), and others attempted to lobby the Seongnam City Council.

On the 2nd, the 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Joon-cheol) held the 25th trial for five defendants: Kim, accountant Jeong, former director Yoo, lawyer Nam Wook, the owner of Hwacheon Daeyu subsidiary Cheonhwa Dongin No. 4, and lawyer Jeong Min-yong.

On that day, the prosecution played a recording file in court of phone calls between accountant Jeong and Kim from 2013 to 2014. The recording included content about distributing profits related to the development project to those who were promised benefits right after the passage of the corporation ordinance in February 2013, and Kim mentioning that he would handle lobbying city council members.

In the recording, Kim said, "Who should deliver it to Brother Han-gu?" and added, "I will handle Brother Han-gu's part within my scope." Accountant Jeong responded, "That seems right," and said, "You should take 1 to 2 billion won and settle it there." He also added, "But you must take responsibility for any problems that arise later on that side." Prosecutors claim that Kang Han-gu, then a Seongnam City Council member, was initially hesitant about establishing the corporation but expressed support in February 2013.

Kim and accountant Jeong mentioned 'Chairman Choi' several times. At the time, Choi Yoon-gil was the chairman of the Seongnam City Council. When accountant Jeong asked Kim if he had spoken with the chairman, Kim said, "I should visit there once," and remarked, "Do the kids treat the chairman well?" and "It would not be an exaggeration to say that the chairman completely controls the key to Daejang-dong."

Accountant Jeong said in a call with Kim, "The strategy I devised is that you only need to see Yoo Dong-gyu. From now on, Yoo Dong-gyu is the 'king,'" and added, "After securing 80% of the land, Yoo Dong-gyu might be asked to request the city to accept it."

A recording of phone calls between accountant Jeong and lawyer Nam from 2013 to 2014 was also played. The prosecution argued that this was a situation where former director Yoo, who said he could persuade then-Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung regarding the development project and make the final decision himself, was heard by lawyer Nam and then relayed to accountant Jeong.

In the recording, lawyer Nam told accountant Jeong, "The ongoing topic is the election. We need to focus on how to get the mayor elected," and said, "'Secretly, try to establish a line with the election commission. No one should know,' was said today." Lawyer Nam also explained to accountant Jeong that he heard, "Don't make Man-bae hyung upset on the prosecution line, take good care of him. There is no one with such connections on the prosecution side."

The transcript of accountant Jeong's recordings submitted during the prosecution investigation is considered key evidence in the Daejang-dong case. It is reported that the transcript contains content about disputes between accountant Jeong and Kim over shared expenses and promises to pay hundreds of billions of won in dividends to former director Yoo.

On the other hand, Kim and lawyer Nam argue that the recording files may have been manipulated or that files different from the originals were submitted, questioning their evidentiary validity.

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