'Lee Presidential Election Funds' Kim Yong Appears in First Trial, Fully Denies Charges

"Prosecution Investigated Despite Knowing Innocence," Claims Nam Wook's Side "Admits to the Fact of Payment Itself"

Kim Yong, former deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute, considered a close aide to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was prosecuted on charges of receiving illegal election funds exceeding 800 million won during the 20th presidential election campaign.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Ahead of the 20th presidential election, Kim Yong, former deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute and a close aide to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, who was indicted and detained on charges of receiving illegal election funds from private developers of Daejang-dong, denied all charges at his first trial, stating, "The prosecution is forcibly conducting the investigation despite knowing my innocence."

At 10 a.m. on the 23rd, the 23rd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jo Byung-gu) held the first preparatory hearing for four defendants indicted on charges of violating the Political Funds Act: former deputy director Kim, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Yoo Dong-gyu, lawyer Jeong Min-yong who served as the corporation’s Strategic Business Office head, and lawyer Nam Wook, a private developer of Daejang-dong.

The preparatory hearing is a procedure to hear opinions from both the prosecution and defense and to establish plans for evidence admission and proof. Although the defendant is not obligated to attend, former deputy director Kim appeared in court in person.

The prosecutor stated, "Among the defendants, only former deputy director Kim denies the facts and completely refused to testify during the investigation phase," adding, "We can prove every sentence of the indictment."

Kim’s defense, who exercised the right to remain silent during the prosecution’s investigation, stated, "The charges are completely untrue." The defense attorney said, "There is no fact that former director Yoo received money," and added, "Although we refused to testify because we judged that the prosecution had no intention to investigate evidence regarding former deputy director Kim’s claims, we will clarify the unjust parts and innocence in court."

The defense also argued, "Of the approximately 20 pages of the indictment, the basic criminal facts occupy only 1 to 2 pages, and the rest mostly consist of premises presented as justification," and claimed, "This is the prosecution’s assertion that could prejudice the presiding judge and violates the principle of the indictment’s exclusivity." The principle of indictment exclusivity means that the prosecution must submit an indictment containing only the facts of the crime at the prosecution stage and must not attach or cite documents or evidence that could lead to preconceptions.

In response, the prosecutor countered, "It was necessary to include specific facts about the Daejang-dong development project and the collusive relationships carried out by the defendants over the past 10 years," and added, "We judged that the content does not prejudice the court."

The court pointed out, "Among the premises in the indictment, there are matters currently under trial in another court. The determination of guilt or innocence must be recognized in separate trials," and said, "There is a Supreme Court precedent that requires deletion of content violating the principle of indictment exclusivity, so it would be good if the prosecution reviews and organizes it if necessary."

Meanwhile, the other three defendants, excluding former deputy director Kim, stated that they acknowledge the basic facts of the indictment. Lawyer Nam’s defense attorney said, "We admit the fact that the money was paid."

Earlier, former deputy director Kim was indicted and detained on the 8th of last month on charges of conspiring with former director Yoo and lawyer Jeong to receive 847 million won in four installments from lawyer Nam as presidential election funds between April and August last year, around the time of the Democratic Party’s preliminary presidential primary.

He served as the general deputy director of Lee’s campaign, responsible for fundraising and organizational management for the presidential election. In February last year, he reportedly requested about 2 billion won for presidential election funds from former director Yoo, saying, "I am circulating around Gwangju," and according to the prosecution’s view, lawyer Nam sent the money through lawyer Jeong and former director Yoo after receiving this request. The prosecution judged that among the money lawyer Nam handed over, 100 million won was spent by former director Yoo and 147 million won was not delivered, so the actual amount received by former deputy director Kim was 600 million won.

Since the prosecution suspects that this money was used as election funds for Lee during the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate primary, if any evidence linking Lee emerges during Kim’s trial, it is expected to have a significant impact on related investigations.

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