Jung Jinsang Appears for Detention Hearing: "Prosecution-Led Government, Saminseongho"... Yoo Donggyu Says "He Should Feel Ashamed" (Comprehensive Report 2)

Jung Jinsang, Chief of Political Coordination at the Office of the Democratic Party of Korea Representative, is attending a pretrial detention hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu on the 18th.
Jung is accused of receiving a total of 140 million won in bribes six times from the so-called 'Daejangdong group,' including Yoo Donggyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, in exchange for facilitating various business projects while serving as Policy Secretary of Seongnam City and Policy Director of Gyeonggi Province from February 2013 to October 2020. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy, Reporter Kim Hyungmin] Jung Jinsang, Chief of Political Coordination at the Office of Democratic Party Leader Lee Jaemyung and his closest aide, appeared at the Seoul Central District Court on the 18th for a detention hearing (warrant review).

Arriving at the court around 1:30 p.m. that day, wearing a navy suit and a mask, Jung criticized, "The prosecution-led government's investigation is like 'zhengjasalin' and 'saminseongho.'" He implied that if a lie is repeated by many, people start to believe it, suggesting that the prosecution is conducting an unreasonable investigation based on falsehoods.

Jung further stated, "The prosecution-led government's investigation is even worse than that of a military regime, and it should also target those in power. At the very least, there needs to be a sense of balance." He bowed and added, "I am sorry for causing concern to the public, who are already struggling due to the economic downturn, because of my situation."

To additional questions, he simply replied, "For details, please ask my attorney," and proceeded into the courtroom.

The decision on whether Jung will be detained is expected as early as late this evening. The review is being handled by Kim Seyong, the judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court. Judge Kim previously issued an arrest warrant on October 22 for Kim Yong, Deputy Director of the Democratic Research Institute and another close aide to Lee, for violating the Political Funds Act, drawing attention to what decision he will make regarding Jung.

Jung is accused of receiving a total of 140 million won in bribes on six occasions from February 2013 to October 2020 while serving as Policy Secretary of Seongnam City and Director of Gyeonggi Province Policy Office. The bribes were allegedly given in exchange for providing business facilitation to the so-called 'Daejang-dong group,' including Yoo Donggyu, former head of planning at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, in violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery).

He is also accused of promising, in February 2015, to share 24.5% (after-tax 42.8 billion won) of common shares owned by private developer Kim Manbae as a reward for selecting the Daejang-dong development operator, with Kim Yong (who has been indicted and detained), Yoo Donggyu, and himself (violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes - post-facto bribery). In addition, from July 2013 to March 2017, he allegedly leaked internal secrets of Seongnam City and Seongnam Urban Development Corporation to private developers including Nam Wook, enabling them to be selected as operators of the Wirye New Town development project and allowing Hoban Construction to serve as developer and contractor, resulting in illicit gains of approximately 21 billion won (violation of the Anti-Corruption Act). He is also accused of instructing Yoo Donggyu to throw his mobile phone out the window on September 29 last year, just before a prosecution raid, in an attempt to destroy evidence (instigation of evidence destruction).

Yoo Donggyu, former head of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, is attending the trial related to the Daejang-dong development project lobbying and preferential treatment allegations at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 28th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

Meanwhile, Yoo Donggyu, former head of planning at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, commented on the four-character idioms Jung used when appearing for the warrant review, saying, "I wish he would feel some shame." After the trial on the Daejang-dong development project preferential treatment case concluded that afternoon, Yoo told reporters, "I don't think the investigation is proceeding solely based on one person's story."

During a court recess, he also remarked, "It seems like people think it's easy to erase writing that's been on an old chalkboard for a long time, but that's not really the case."

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