Court Detains Kim Yong in 'Lee Jae-myung Illegal Presidential Campaign Funds Allegation' "Risk of Evidence Tampering"

On the 19th, officials from the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, who arrested Kim Yong, Deputy Director of the Minjoo Research Institute, on suspicion of receiving illegal funds, attempted to enter the Minjoo Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, to conduct a search of the Minjoo Research Institute, but clashed with the on-duty staff. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Kim Yong, Deputy Director of the Democratic Research Institute, who was arrested on charges of receiving illegal political funds worth hundreds of millions of won, was detained on the 22nd. With Kim, considered the 'right-hand man' of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, being detained, there is a prospect that the prosecution, having gained momentum, may soon target Lee himself.

The Seoul Central District Court's Judge Kim Seyong, in charge of warrants, who conducted the pre-arrest interrogation (warrant review) of Deputy Director Kim the previous afternoon, issued the detention warrant early that morning, citing "concerns over evidence destruction."

Earlier, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kang Baeksin) requested the court to issue an arrest warrant for Deputy Director Kim on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. According to the prosecution, Kim is suspected of conspiring with former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Donggyu and lawyer Jeong Minyong (former head of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Strategic Business Office) to illegally receive 847 million won in political funds in four installments from lawyer Nam Wook, a private developer involved in the Daejang-dong development, between April and August last year. It is known that Kim received 600 million won of this amount.

The prosecution believes the money was exchanged while the Democratic Party of Korea was preparing for the presidential primary. During the primary, Deputy Director Kim served as the general deputy head of Lee Jae-myung’s campaign, responsible for fundraising and organizational management. The prosecution believes that in February last year, Kim requested about 2 billion won from former Director Yoo for presidential campaign funds. Former Director Yoo then passed this request to lawyer Nam, who prepared about 800 million won in cash over several occasions, which was delivered to Deputy Director Kim through lawyer Jeong and former Director Yoo.

The prosecution expanded its investigation from the preferential treatment and lobbying suspicions related to the Daejang-dong urban development project to include allegations of corruption in the Wirye New Town development. They obtained a decisive statement from former Director Yoo admitting to exchanging money, leading to charges of violating the Political Funds Act.

This detention warrant for Deputy Director Kim marks the first attempt to secure custody related to the Political Funds Act violation. Kim has reportedly denied all charges, stating he never requested or received any money from former Director Yoo.

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