Prosecutors: "Kim Yong and Jeong Min-yong contacted each other via public phone... reminiscent of a spy movie"

Prosecutors: "Kim Yong Also Behind Yudonggyu's 'Contact Attempt'"

The prosecution revealed in court that Kim Yong, former deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute and a close aide to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Jeong Min-yong, a developer involved in the Daejang-dong project, communicated via public phone calls like a spy movie before meeting.

At the trial held on the 7th under the Criminal Division 23 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jo Byung-gu), the prosecution disclosed call records during the hearing of former deputy director Kim, Jeong, and former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu.

According to the records released by the prosecution, Jeong made several calls from a public phone located one minute away from his residence to former deputy director Kim starting November 26, 2021.

Additionally, the prosecution revealed that Kim and Jeong met three times on November 27, December 13, and December 29, 2021, around the times they communicated, presenting Jeong’s notes and map application search history as evidence.

Jeong’s notes included words such as ‘drone,’ ‘Yeouido,’ and ‘19:00,’ and the map search history showed a caf? in Yeouido. The prosecution explained that ‘drone’ was a shortened form of Kim’s nickname ‘Dragon’ (Yong).

The prosecution stated, "On December 14, 2021, the day after their meeting, lawyer Park contacted Jeong Min-yong saying, ‘The person you met yesterday asked to get in touch.’ It was neither Kim Yong nor ‘the person you met yesterday,’ which evokes the atmosphere of a spy movie," they argued.

The prosecution also revealed that when Nam Wook, a developer involved in the Daejang-dong project, and Jeong were under investigation and brought to trial over suspicions surrounding the project, Nam hired lawyer Jang, a former high-ranking prosecutor, who was introduced to him through Jeong’s request to former deputy director Kim.

In response, Kim’s defense attorney admitted, "We acknowledge that Kim met Jeong Min-yong," adding, "Jeong Min-yong, who was being accused as part of a corrupt group, tried to seek help by meeting defendant Kim Yong, a key figure in the campaign of a leading presidential candidate. From Kim Yong’s perspective, he was anxious about what stories Jeong might fabricate if he refused to meet."

Furthermore, the prosecution claimed that former director Kim was behind the Democratic Party’s attempt to contact former director Yoo through lawyers to grasp the investigation details.

The prosecution also alleged that Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom tried to confirm the prosecution’s investigation status through lawyers.

The prosecution stated, "All the lawyers called Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom, each call lasting about 7 to 11 minutes," adding, "Lawmaker Kim confirmed the prosecution’s investigation status on former director Yoo and Yoo’s intentions through the lawyers."

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