Yoo Dong-gyu's 'Mouth' Shakes the Political Scene... "Don't Know Kim Moon-gi? We Played Golf and Rode Carts Together"

Continuing Revelations About Lee Jae-myung Through Media Interview
"You Can't Cover the Sky with Your Palm... Will Slowly Strangle to Death"

Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, is leaving the court after the continuation of the first trial related to the 'Daejang-dong Development Corruption' held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-dong on the 21st. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The political landscape is shaking following the revelations by Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, who was arrested last October over allegations of corruption in the Daejang-dong development project and later released. Yoo is reported to have provided decisive testimony leading to the recent arrest of Kim Yong, deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute and a close aide to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on charges of receiving illegal presidential election funds amounting to around 800 million KRW. Yoo, who was released on the 20th after his detention period expired, continues to make disclosures about Lee through media contacts. This has led to expectations that Yoo’s statements will become a critical trigger in future related investigations.

In an interview with Hankook Ilbo published on the 24th, he claimed, "Does Lee not know Kim Moon-gi? The three of us played golf together in Australia and even rode carts together." Kim Moon-gi, the late former head of Development Division 1 at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation and a key figure in the Daejang-dong project, was found dead last year while under investigation by prosecutors. Lee had stated in a broadcast interview last year that he did not know Kim, but Yoo insists that Lee could not have been unaware of Kim.

Yoo also said, "Who paid for the yacht in New Zealand? I didn’t even go (to ride the yacht), but I paid for it. He (Lee) went (to ride the yacht). Then isn’t it something he received?" referring to a 2015 overseas business trip to Australia and New Zealand with Lee and Kim Moon-gi, during which he covered the yacht expenses. Furthermore, regarding Lee’s recent press conference on the election fund allegations where he said, "I never received a single won of illegal funds" and "I didn’t even receive a single candy," Yoo commented, "Not even 10 won? Sushi costs more than 10 won."

In an interview with Hankook Ilbo released on the 21st, Yoo also stated that Lee could not have been unaware of the fund transfer situation. Mentioning Jeong Jin-sang, chief political coordinator at the Democratic Party leader’s office and a close aide to Lee, Yoo said, "Jeong Jin-sang and I drank together 100 times, 1,000 times. You can cover the sky with your palm, but you cannot hide your tracks." He added, "If they are so desperate over a small stone being thrown, what will happen when a really big stone flies?" and predicted further disclosures about Lee, saying, "No need to rush. I will slowly strangle him."

In an interview with JoongAng Ilbo published the same day, Yoo said, "The entire content of (Lee’s) press conference was interesting," and added, "I believe everything will come out truthfully. No matter how many layers an onion has, if you peel it, the core comes out. If someone did wrong, they should pay the price, and no one should be wronged or falsely accused."

Meanwhile, Kim Yong, a close aide to Lee, was arrested on the 22nd on charges of violating the Political Funds Act for allegedly conspiring with Yoo Dong-gyu and lawyer Jeong Min-yong (former head of Strategic Business at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation) to receive illegal political funds totaling 847 million KRW in four installments from Nam Wook, a private developer involved in the Daejang-dong project, between April and August last year. Prosecutors suspect that the funds were used for the presidential election campaign, citing Kim’s role as deputy general director of Lee’s campaign and the timing before the Democratic Party’s presidential primary. Kim denies all charges.

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