Lee Jae-myung's Statement "Kim Moon-gi Didn't Know" in Court, Could It Become a 'Landmine' in Daejang-dong?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] As the truth of the statement by Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who said he "does not know" the late Kim Moon-gi, former Head of Development Division 1 at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, is to be determined in court, the impact of the statement is expected to be significant. This statement is also seen as a potential trigger for the prosecution's renewed investigation into the 'Daejang-dong development preferential treatment and lobbying' allegations.

On the 8th, the Public Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Sang-hyun) indicted Lee without detention on charges of false statement under the Public Official Election Act. Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3 (Chief Prosecutor Kang Baek-shin) is conducting a full-scale reinvestigation of the Daejang-dong allegations. Recently, the investigation has expanded to include the Wirye New Town development project. At the end of last month, they also conducted raids on about 20 locations, including Hoban Construction, which was the contractor for the Wirye New Town A2-8 block development project, Wirye Asset Management, sales agencies, and residences of related parties.

As Lee is scheduled to stand trial on charges of false statement, the content and outcomes emerging from the court proceedings could influence the prosecution's investigation. The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3, which is examining the Daejang-dong allegations, is likely to closely monitor Lee’s trial.

Whether Lee knew or did not know Kim is seen as a clue to identifying the 'upper echelon' of the Daejang-dong case. The prosecution has determined that Lee received multiple face-to-face reports from Kim on major issues of the corporation, including the Daejang-dong development project, while in the Seongnam mayor’s office.

Moreover, based on testimonies from related parties and seized items such as Kim’s mobile phone and laptop, the prosecution believes that Lee had interactions with Kim since his time as a lawyer before being elected mayor of Seongnam. Even after his election, Lee reportedly accompanied Kim on official trips to Australia and engaged in private activities such as playing golf together, indicating a personal friendship.

Despite these circumstances, the prosecution judges that Lee deliberately lied by saying he "did not know" Kim in order to dispel the Daejang-dong-related allegations raised during the presidential election process. Since the statement of not knowing was made multiple times in broadcast interviews, it is considered more than a simple slip of the tongue or misunderstanding, but rather a prepared falsehood.

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