Jung Jin-sang Appears for Detention Hearing: "Prosecutorial Regime Worse Than Military Regime" (Comprehensive)

Jung Jin-sang, Chief of Political Coordination at the Office of the Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending a pre-trial detention hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu on the 18th.
Jung is accused of receiving a total of 140 million KRW in bribes six times from Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, and others involved in the 'Daejang-dong group' in exchange for facilitating various project promotions while serving as Policy Secretary of Seongnam City and Director of Policy at Gyeonggi Province from February 2013 to October 2020. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Jeong Jin-sang, the chief political coordinator of the party leader’s office and a close aide to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared on the 18th at the Seoul Central District Court for a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review).

At around 1:30 PM that day, Jeong, dressed in a navy suit and wearing a mask, arrived at the court and criticized, "The prosecution regime’s investigation is a case of 'mass murder and collective framing'." This implies that if multiple people tell lies, they tend to be believed, suggesting that the prosecution is conducting an excessive investigation based on falsehoods.

Jeong further stated, "The prosecution regime’s investigation, harsher than military regimes, should also be directed at the living power, and at least a minimum balance is necessary." He bowed and apologized, saying, "I am sorry to cause concern due to my case while the people are struggling through economic collapse and working hard."

When asked additional questions, he only said, "Details will be discussed with my lawyer..." and headed into the courtroom.

The decision on Jeong’s detention is expected to be made as early as late that afternoon. The detention decision will be presided over by Judge Kim Se-yong, the warrant-specialized chief judge of the Seoul Central District Court. Judge Kim previously issued an arrest warrant on the 22nd of last month for Kim Yong, another close aide to Lee and deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute (charged with violation of the Political Funds Act), drawing attention to what conclusion he will reach regarding Jeong.

Jeong is suspected of receiving a total of 140 million KRW in bribes six times from Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of planning at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, and others in the ‘Daejang-dong group’ in exchange for facilitating various project promotions while serving as Seongnam City policy secretary and Gyeonggi Province policy director from February 2013 to October 2020 (bribery under the Special Act on Criminal Cases).

He is also accused of promising in February 2015 to share 24.5% of common stock (after tax 42.8 billion KRW) held by private businessman Kim Man-bae, the developer of the Daejang-dong project, with Kim Yong (detained and indicted), deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute, and former head Yoo, as a reward for selecting the developer (acceptance of bribes after improper conduct). From July 2013 to March 2017, he allegedly leaked internal secrets of Seongnam City and Seongnam Urban Development Corporation to private businessmen including Nam Wook, enabling them to be selected as developers for the Wirye New Town project, allowing Hoban Construction to implement and construct the project and gain development profits worth approximately 21 billion KRW (violation of the Anti-Corruption Act). He is also charged with instructing former head Yoo to throw his mobile phone out the window on September 29 last year, just before a prosecution raid, to destroy evidence (obstruction of justice by evidence destruction).

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