Choi Yoon-gil: "The Purpose of Daejang-dong and Seongnam FC Was Good... The Fault Lies with the Thieves"

Choi Yoon-gil, Former Chairman of Seongnam City Council [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Choi Yoon-gil, former chairman of the Seongnam City Council (63), is suspected to be one of the figures who triggered the 'Daejang-dong urban development preferential treatment and lobbying' and 'Seongnam FC sponsorship fund' incidents. During his tenure as head of the Seongnam City Council from July 2012 to June 2014, ordinances related to the establishment of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation and the Seongnam FC professional soccer team, which were the bases of these incidents, were passed. There are allegations that Choi, as chairman, used his authority to play a decisive role in passing the ordinances and received rewards in return.

On the 17th, in a phone interview with this paper, Choi said, "The initial intentions for both Daejang-dong and Seongnam FC were good. However, problems arose during the operation process," emphasizing, "It was the gang of thieves who did wrong, but until the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation and Seongnam FC team were created, everything was done well." He implied that at the time the ordinances were passed in the city council, there was no illegality. Therefore, he explained that he was also innocent while performing his duties as chairman. On the other hand, he seems to have practically acknowledged the illegality of those who operated the corporation and the team afterward.

Choi added, "Other local governments have urban development corporations, but Seongnam did not, so it was struggling to push forward various projects," and "Seongnam FC was on the verge of disbandment, so many citizens protested. It was created because everyone wanted it and to raise the pride of Seongnam citizens."

However, the prosecution's judgment differs. The indictment against Kim Yong, deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute, who was arrested and indicted on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, also names Choi. It states that Choi conspired with Jeong Jin-sang, Kim Yong, then a Seongnam city council member, and Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, and with their support, was elected as chairman of the Seongnam City Council's second half in July 2012, forced a vote on the ordinance establishing Seongnam Urban Development Corporation in March 2013, and ultimately ensured its passage.

Regarding this, Choi said, "I really don't understand why I am being named." He expressed frustration, saying, "Jeong Jin-sang, who was the policy director of Seongnam City, never even had a phone call with me. If I had at least one phone call with him, I would acknowledge that content." However, about former head Yoo, he explained, "I considered Jeong Jin-sang and Kim Yong as more than brothers."

About the council voting process at the time, he explained, "The chairman makes the final decision, but ultimately the core of the council is the standing committee," adding, "After the standing committee passes a matter, it is submitted to the plenary session for resolution. The chairman cannot remove or add anything. I only asked all members for their opinions on the agenda submitted by the standing committee and did not lead the vote."

Choi also played a decisive role in the passage of the 'Seongnam Citizen Professional Soccer Team (Seongnam FC) Establishment Ordinance' in the city council plenary session in November 2013. He used his authority to submit the ordinance, which had been deferred for review after a request for reconsideration in the Culture and Welfare Committee, to the plenary session. The ordinance passed with 20 votes in favor (1 abstention) out of 21 members present among 34 total council members. Accordingly, Seongnam FC was established in January of the following year. Although this matter is outside the prosecution's investigation scope, legal circles continue to raise concerns. Some reports allege that Choi received bribes disguised as performance bonuses from the club's executives and employees. Regarding this, Choi said, "I don't remember well," but denied the bribery allegations, saying, "It must be a distorted rumor."

After serving as chairman, Choi was hired as vice chairman of Hwacheon Daeyu in February 2021 and was promised sequential payment of 4 billion KRW in performance bonuses and an annual salary of 84 million KRW from the completion of the Daejang-dong urban development project. He received about 80 million KRW in salary and other payments until November 17 of the same year. He was arrested and indicted in February on charges related to these payments and is currently on trial. He emphasized, "The truth will be fully revealed in court."

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