'800 Million Bribery' Lee Jae-myung's Closest Aide Kim Yong Trial Begins on 23rd Next Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The trial of Kim Yong, Deputy Director of the Democratic Research Institute, who was detained and indicted on charges of receiving illegal election funds amounting to 800 million won during the 20th presidential election, will begin next month.

According to the legal community on the 22nd, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 23 (Chief Judge Jo Byung-gu) has scheduled the first preparatory hearing for Kim's violation of the Political Funds Act case on the 23rd of next month at 10 a.m.

The preparatory hearing is a procedure to confirm the positions of the defendant and defense counsel regarding the charges and to plan evidence investigations, including witness examinations. Unlike the formal trial, the defendant is not obligated to appear in person.

Kim was indicted on charges of conspiring with former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu and Jeong Min-yong (former head of strategic business at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation) between April and August last year, around the time of the Democratic Party presidential primary, to receive 847 million won in four installments from Nam Wook, a private developer in Daejang-dong, under the pretext of presidential election funds.

Kim, a close aide to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, reportedly requested about 2 billion won for presidential election funds from former Director Yoo in February last year, saying he was "circulating around Gwangju," according to the prosecution. Former Director Yoo conveyed this request to Nam, who raised the funds and passed them through Jeong and Yoo before delivering them to Kim. After deducting returned amounts, the final sum delivered to Kim was 600 million won. Based on this assessment, the prosecution indicted former Director Yoo and Jeong as accomplices and Nam as the provider, bringing them to trial together.

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