'Daejangdong Allegations' Yudonggyu's Side Claims "Attempted Extreme Choice in Detention Center"

Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation. / Photo by Gyeonggi Province, Yonhap News Agency

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[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Allegations have emerged that Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, who is currently on trial in custody for preferential treatment and lobbying suspicions related to the Daejang-dong development in Seongnam, attempted an extreme act while in detention. Correctional authorities have launched an investigation into whether Yoo actually ingested sleeping pills.

Yoo’s lawyer stated on the 21st, "I met with Yoo this morning and heard directly from him about his emergency transfer and treatment following an attempted extreme act." He added, "Yoo reportedly took 50 sleeping pills he had yesterday early morning in an attempt to end his life but was transferred to the emergency room, where he regained consciousness without treatment and returned to the detention center in the afternoon."

He continued, "The day before, Yoo told his common-law spouse, 'An arrest warrant was issued for me on charges of instructing the destruction of a cellphone, which I did not order. I feel like I want to leave this world.' He also left a note inside the detention center expressing apologies to his wife and daughter."

Correctional authorities reportedly found Yoo unable to wake up at morning roll call the previous day and transferred him to a nearby hospital to check for health issues. The medical examination at that time revealed no significant abnormalities.

A correctional official said, "The investigation into whether sleeping pills were taken is ongoing. We have not confirmed any circumstances indicating an attempted extreme act. Apart from receiving external medical treatment, there was no talk of an extreme act, but since the lawyer claims so, we are additionally verifying the facts."

In response, the lawyer claimed, "The detention center staff were unaware of the sleeping pill ingestion. After Yoo was transferred to the emergency room and underwent CT scans, no brain abnormalities were found, and it was understood as delirium symptoms only."

In correctional facilities, to prevent misuse of medication by inmates, it is standard procedure to provide only a single dose at a time and have the correctional officer directly confirm ingestion on the spot.

Regarding this, a correctional authority said, "As far as we know, the officers did not violate work protocols when dispensing medication to Yoo," but added, "If Yoo’s side’s claims are true, further investigation is needed to determine how he was able to accumulate the pills."

Meanwhile, Yoo was indicted twice on October 21 and November 1 last year on charges of favoring Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management (major shareholder Kim Man-bae), the private developer of the Daejang-dong project, causing losses to the corporation, and receiving bribes in return.

Subsequently, on the 19th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 22 (Presiding Judge Lee Jun-cheol) issued an additional arrest warrant for Yoo. The court cited concerns over evidence tampering as the reason for issuing the warrant. Yoo’s detention period was extended until October at the latest due to the recognition of charges related to instructing evidence destruction.

The common-law spouse A, who destroyed cellphone evidence under Yoo’s instructions, was also indicted on charges of evidence tampering.

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