Prosecution Nears Indictment of Kim Yong... How Much Will the Indictment Include?

Amid the prosecution's arrest and investigation 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 violating the Political Funds Act, the Taegeukgi and prosecution flags were seen hanging at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 1st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The indictment of Kim Yong, Deputy Director of the Democratic Research Institute, who is accused of violating the Political Funds Act, is imminent. The prosecution has entered the final countdown ahead of the expiration of Kim’s detention period on the 8th. It is expected that he will be brought to trial as early as the 7th. Attention is now focused on Kim’s indictment. There is keen interest in how much detail the prosecution will include in the indictment regarding the money delivered to Kim. While the indictment could contain all investigation details, it is also highly likely that only part of the information will be included for strategic reasons, considering the upcoming trial and additional investigations.

According to the legal community on the 6th, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office (Chief Prosecutor Kang Baek-shin) is focusing on strengthening the charges ahead of the expiration of Kim’s detention period. Since Kim was detained on the 22nd of last month, he has been summoned for questioning almost daily except for two days. On the 3rd, a close aide of lawyer Nam Wook, who is known to have been the intermediary for the funds, was summoned as a witness. On the same day, Kim Mo, a former executive of Cheonhadongin No. 4, was also summoned.

The prosecution is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the details, circumstances, and process of the money Kim received. Kim denies all allegations of receiving money and has exercised his right to remain silent during the prosecution’s questioning, but the prosecution appears confident as it has secured various pieces of physical evidence.

The prosecution is strongly expected to first indict Kim for the 847 million won he received in four installments from lawyer Nam and others between April and August of last year. It is anticipated that after additional investigations, the entire scope of Kim’s receipt of funds will be added as a 'comprehensive single offense' through additional indictment or amendment of the indictment. The prosecution is also verifying facts based on testimony that in 2014, Kim demanded 200 million won from former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu and received 100 million won.

Based on this, it is reported that the prosecution is examining whether funds were delivered during the 2014 and 2018 local elections. The prosecution believes that the 847 million won Kim received from April to August last year was used as election funds for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, ahead of the 20th presidential election primaries, and is investigating the possibility that similar funds were exchanged in a similar manner and purpose in 2014 and 2018.

Attention is also focused on how the prosecution will specify the custody of the so-called 'Daejang-dong gang' who prepared and delivered the money when bringing Kim to trial. It is known that the prosecution regards lawyer Jeong Min-yong and former Director Yoo as accomplices conspiring with Kim, and lawyer Nam as the provider. There is also interest in whether Lee Jae-myung’s name will appear in the indictment alongside them.

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