Lee Jae-myung asks Yoo Dong-gyu, "It's very hard, right?"... First court battle

by Ryu Hyunseok

Published 28 Apr.2023 18:10(KST)

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, engaged in a legal battle with former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation director Yoo Dong-gyu on the 28th.

This was the first time the two exchanged words since the 'Daejang-dong incident' began in September 2021. After the prosecution's reinvestigation in September last year, Yoo changed his stance and has been giving testimony and statements unfavorable to Lee.

Lee and Yoo faced off in the fifth trial session on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, held in the afternoon at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 34 (Presiding Judge Kang Gyu-tae). Although they met face-to-face for the first time on the 31st of last month, this was their first verbal exchange.

During cross-examination of Yoo, who appeared as a witness, by Lee's lawyer, Lee interjected, saying, "May I ask just one question?" Yoo's lawyer pointed out that Yoo did not clearly remember reporting directly to Lee, who was then the mayor of Seongnam. At that moment, Yoo mentioned Lee, saying, "Don't you remember discussing how to proceed in the mayor's office, even drawing pictures, regarding the conversion of the 1st Industrial Complex into a park?"

Lee pressed, "Are you saying you explained to me with drawings? Are you saying you told Nam Wook that if you could make 100 billion won, you could create the 1st Industrial Complex?" Yoo replied, "Yes."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 28th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

This situation also appears in the so-called 'Jung Young-hak recording.' In the April 17, 2013 recording, Nam Wook told Jung Young-hak that Yoo said, regarding land expropriation issues and others, "If you just package it and throw it to Mayor (Lee Jae-myung), that's enough. The mayor even drew pictures for me. This is something only you and I should know. We just need 100 billion won. Then it will be resolved."

Lee pointed out, "At the February 2013 New Year's meeting, I explained that 370 billion won would remain from the Daejang-dong development and that 200 billion won could be used to create a park, but a few months later, saying that only 100 billion won was needed for the park does not make sense."

Yoo then claimed, "At that time, the two of us sat in the mayor's office, and I listened to the mayor's words," adding, "The mayor also spoke and conversed while drawing pictures together."

Until now, Yoo had referred to Lee in court as 'Lee Jae-myung' or 'Mr. Lee Jae-myung,' but during direct conversation, he addressed him as 'Mayor.'

When Lee asked, "I don't see any drawings I made. What kind of drawings did I make?" Yoo answered, "I don't remember exactly."

Lee said, "It seems the witness did draw the pictures," to which Yoo countered, "Both the mayor and I drew them together."

Lee also pointed out that Yoo testified to the prosecution that he heard the phrase "100 billion won is enough" from Jeong Jin-sang, former chief of staff at the representative's office. Lee said, "Did you testify to the prosecution that the story in the recording was something you heard from Jeong Jin-sang, yes or no? This is the part I want to explain to the judge."

Yoo responded, "I don't remember well. Please show me when the statement was made," and Lee smiled, replying, "I am just asking about the witness's memory."

While pressing Yoo in this way, Lee maintained a calm demeanor. He even showed some ease toward Yoo, saying, "I was trying not to talk much, but it must be very difficult." On the other hand, as Yoo became somewhat agitated and seemed to be on the defensive, the prosecution told the court, "Since the questions are based on facts not confirmed by evidence, it seems difficult for (Yoo) to answer accurately."