'Kim Yong Trial' Common-Law Spouse of Witness Yoo Dong-gyu Says "I Refuse to Testify"

by Kim Daehyun

Published 20 Apr.2023 11:19(KST)

"Defendant Yoo Dong-gyu has admitted to the charges, and the witness has appeared to testify as his common-law spouse. If you refuse to testify, it could undermine the credibility of Mr. Yoo's statements. Please share your position or opinion. (Presiding Judge)"

At the trial of 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, Park, the common-law spouse of former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu, appeared as a witness but refused to testify on most of the key questions posed by both the prosecution and Kim’s defense team.

Yoo Dong-gyu, Former Head of Planning Division at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation / Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

On the morning of the 20th at 10 a.m., the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 23 (Presiding Judge Jo Byung-gu) held a continuation of the trial against former deputy director Kim, who is charged with violations of the Political Funds Act and other offenses.

Unlike Yoo, former private developer Nam Wook, and lawyer Jeong Min-yong, who are other defendants, Kim has denied all charges. On this day, Park appeared as a witness. Yoo also observed Park’s examination in court.

The prosecution and Kim’s defense team asked Park whether Yoo had ever taken out 500 million won from a bag and shown it to Kim in May or June 2021, but Park firmly refused to answer, saying, "I refuse to testify."

Yoo has claimed during investigations and trial proceedings that he intended to deliver 500 million won to Kim but the meeting fell through, so he brought the money back to his residence and showed it to Park. When Park repeatedly asked about the bag, Yoo took out the money and explained it was for the "election," to which Park allegedly responded, "Does politics really cost that much money? Politics is really..." shaking her head, according to Yoo’s statement.

However, Park previously answered "I do not remember" during the prosecution’s investigation and refused to testify on related questions during the trial.

After repeated refusals to testify, when Kim’s defense attorney asked, "Are you currently hoping for favorable outcomes in Yoo Dong-gyu’s various trials?" Park answered, "Yes." But when asked, "Are you aware that Yoo has admitted all charges and is seeking leniency?" Park again refused to testify.

The defense attorney pointed out, "Yoo has admitted all charges and said he gave money to Kim Yong. For Yoo’s statements to be true, he would receive a lighter sentence, but if he did not receive the money, he would be punished more severely. As someone living with him, shouldn’t you actively cooperate?"

Park responded, "Seeing people dying related to this case has caused me trauma, and I am anxious every day, fearing that he (Yoo) might be harmed once he is released. Testifying itself is frightening and scary," appealing emotionally.

Kim is on trial for allegedly conspiring with Yoo and lawyer Jeong Min-yong from April to August 2021, around the time of the Democratic Party presidential primary, to receive 847 million won in four installments from lawyer Nam Wook as presidential campaign funds.

The prosecution believes that Kim, as the overall deputy director of Lee’s campaign, was responsible for fundraising and organization management. In February 2021, Kim reportedly requested about 2 billion won from Yoo for presidential campaign funds, saying he was "circulating around Gwangju." Nam, having received this information, sent the money through Jeong and Yoo. Of the money Nam handed over, Yoo used 100 million won and did not deliver 147 million won, so the prosecution judged that Kim actually received a total of 600 million won.

Meanwhile, Park was sentenced in the first trial to one year in prison with a two-year probation for evidence tampering after destroying Yoo’s mobile phone and disposing of it in a garbage bag shortly after the Daejang-dong scandal investigation. It was investigated that Yoo contacted Park on September 29, 2021, just before the prosecution’s search of his residence, instructing her to discard the phone he had been using.