Yoo Dong-gyu: "Neglected by Higher-Ups... I Am in the Position of a JMS Fanatic"

by Kim Daehyun

Published 09 Mar.2023 14:42(KST)

Former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoodonggyu claimed that he was brainwashed for 10 years to live for Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Yoo Dong-gyu, Former Head of Planning Division at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation / Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

On the 9th, the Criminal Division 23 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jo Byung-gu) held the second trial of former Democratic Research Institute Deputy Director Kim Yong, who was indicted for violating the Political Funds Act.

Former Director Yoo was jointly indicted with former Deputy Director Kim on charges of receiving political funds from the Daejang-dong group in conspiracy (violation of the Political Funds Act), but he appeared as a witness on this day.

The prosecution asked in court about the background of former Director Yoo's sudden change of attitude during the prosecution investigation in the second half of last year, when he made statements unfavorable to Lee and his close associates.

Former Director Yoo claimed that suspicion accumulated that he was being monitored rather than protected by Lee's side, which gradually changed his attitude. Yoo testified, "Even the prosecution was unaware," and said that during the October investigation last year, he was the one who first brought up the contents related to former Deputy Director Kim's violation of the Political Funds Act.

A handwritten statement submitted by former Director Yoo at the time was also disclosed. It contained statements such as, "In early 2021, Kim Yong asked me to prepare about 1 billion won for Lee Jae-myung's presidential campaign funds," and "I asked Nam Wook if he could arrange presidential campaign funds for Lee Jae-myung, and (omitted) Nam Wook gave me money 3 to 4 times in 2021."

He said, "I was very exhausted. Even people who were like brothers ignored me and left me alone," and "When I thought about it, I felt more like I was being driven. So I felt resentful and confessed from this part," adding, "It was like they were attacking and stigmatizing only me one by one."

He mentioned, "To such an extent that after watching the Netflix documentary about a cult member escaping from the Christian Gospel Mission (JMS) appearing in the media, I thought I was in that position."

He also claimed about the lawyers sent by Lee's campaign at the time, "When news articles about Lee Jae-myung and Daejang-dong came out, they visited for meetings," and "They were not there to defend me but asked a lot about information I knew about other people."

Former Director Yoo also alleged that Lee's closest aide, former Democratic Party Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-sang, said at a drinking party before Lee was elected mayor of Seongnam, "Let's eat the country." He also testified that "When Lee Jae-myung was sentenced to a disqualification from office in the second trial as Gyeonggi Province governor, he even thought about self-immolation in Gwanghwamun if he lost at the Supreme Court (confirming the disqualification sentence)."

Former Deputy Director Kim was arrested in November last year and brought to trial on charges of receiving 847 million won in four installments from lawyer Nam as presidential campaign funds in conspiracy with former Director Yoo and lawyer Jeong between April and August last year, around the time of the Democratic Party presidential primary. He served as the overall deputy director of Lee's campaign, responsible for fundraising and organizational management. In February 2021, he reportedly asked former Director Yoo for about 2 billion won for presidential campaign funds, saying he was "circulating around Gwangju," and the prosecution believes that 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 gave, 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.