Another investigation is underway regarding the development project of Lee Jae-myung, former Seongnam mayor and current head of the Democratic Party. Specifically, the Baekhyun-dong development is under suspicion. Kim In-seop, a former head of Lee’s campaign headquarters, has been arrested and accused of lobbying for the development in exchange for money and business rights. The original plan for public housing was reduced to increase business feasibility, resulting in the construction of apartments facing a high retaining wall. It is believed that Kim played a role in this process, and he has a previous history of alleged lobbying. The investigation is expected to target Lee through his closest aides.
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Another prosecution investigation is in full swing over the development project of Lee Jae-myung, the head of the Democratic Party, during his time as Seongnam mayor.
It is Baekhyun-dong development suspicion.
Prosecutors arrested Kim In-seop, a former head of Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myeong’s campaign campaign headquarters, and launched a full-scale investigation into the lobbying allegations.
Following the investigation into the development of Daejang-dong and Wirye New Town, this investigation also seems to be headed toward CEO Lee Jae-myung.
Reporter Kim Sang-hoon reports.
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Prosecutors arrested Kim In-seop, former CEO of Korea Housing Technology, a key figure in the alleged lobbying for the development of Baekhyeon-dong, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do.
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Former CEO Kim is accused of receiving 7.7 billion won from a developer and business rights to a Hamba restaurant at the construction site in exchange for lobbying.
The site in Baekhyeon-dong that remained after the Korea Food Research Institute left was a natural green area.
The original plan to build 100% public rental housing has also reduced the proportion to 10%, increasing the business feasibility.
In the end, the apartment was built facing a 50-meter-high retaining wall, and it is the prosecution’s view that former CEO Kim played a role in this process.
In 2006, former head of Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung’s camp campaign headquarters, former CEO Kim had a history of being punished for alleged lobbying for Seongnam’s storage tank business.
It is true that former CEO Kim helped the business and received a stake, but he has denied the charges, saying he never lobbied for a change of use.
[김인섭/전 한국하우징기술 대표(지난달 13일 통화)]
″‘How did Kim In-seop not run four steps?’ But that is ignorant. Even before we did it, (Seongnam City) this was established in the 2030 plan…″
However, it has already been confirmed in the police investigation that former CEO Kim made 115 phone calls with then-policy secretary Jeong Jin-sang around the time of the Baekhyun-dong business.
Like the investigation into the suspicions of Daejang-dong and Wirye New Town, this investigation is expected to target Lee Jae-myung head-on through the closest aides.
This is Kim Sang-hoon from MBC News.
Video editing: Changkyu Kim
The investigation into the Baekhyun-dong development suspicion is yet another blow to Lee Jae-myung, the head of the Democratic Party, and his alleged corrupt practices during his time as Seongnam mayor. With the arrest of Kim In-seop and the launch of a full-scale investigation into lobbying allegations, it seems that CEO Lee Jae-myung could be the next target. This investigation, along with the previous ones, is expected to target Lee Jae-myung head-on through his closest aides. We will continue to provide updates on this ongoing investigation.