'Daechung-dong Profit Sharing' Conspiracy Recording Released... '50 Billion Club' Also Named

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] A conversation in which Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management, discussed how much of the expected profits from the Daejang-dong development project would be distributed to so-called members of the '50 Billion Club' and others was revealed in court.

The Criminal Division 22 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jun-cheol) held a trial on the 6th for former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu, Kim, lawyer Nam Wook, accountant Jeong Young-hak, and lawyer Jeong Min-yong, during which they played a recording made by accountant Jeong.

In the file, Kim plans the profit distribution with accountant Jeong, saying things like "50 billion to whom," "20 billion to whom," and remarks, "The total is 32 billion, right? If it's 32 billion, we can just split it."

He also seems to check if the calculations are correct, saying, "Then what does the total become? Write it down (on paper)," matching the sales profits with the amounts to be distributed.

Kim also says, "I'll name the people who will get 50 billion," listing "Park Young-soo (former special prosecutor), Kwak Sang-do (former member of the National Assembly), Kim Soo-nam (former Prosecutor General), Hong Seon-geun (Chairman of Money Today Group), Kwon Soon-il (former Supreme Court Justice), and Kang Han-gu (Seongnam City Council member) 300 million."

Accountant Jeong appears to add up the distribution amounts, saying "50, 50, 100, 200, 300," as if calculating the shares. Although the audio quality is uneven, the names of specific individuals, amounts, and numerical additions continue throughout the conversation.

Before playing the file, the prosecution explained, "It is content that specifically confirms and conducts a mid-term check on the amounts and procurement methods of funds to be paid to the so-called '50 Billion Group,' including Kwak Sang-do, Kwon Soon-il, Park Young-soo, and other helpers of the Daejang-dong project."

The court has been playing the recording files made by accountant Jeong Young-hak, identified as the 'smoking gun' (decisive evidence) in the preferential treatment and lobbying allegations related to the Daejang-dong development project, since the 2nd of this month.

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