Lee Yong-cheol: “I know almost nothing about Daejang-dong” ... On Dong-gyu Yu’s slander: “I’ve never engaged in high-stakes gambling”

[Financial News] Lee Yong-cheol, nominee for Minister of Justice (21st class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute), denied allegations that he was involved in the Daejang-dong development project. In response to gambling allegations raised by former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation (SDC) planning director Dong-gyu Yu, he said, “I have never engaged in gambling involving large sums of money.” On the question of directing the withdrawal of the indictment in President Lee Jae Myung’s criminal case, he said, “It is advisable to proceed in accordance with the law and principles.”
He made the remarks to reporters as he arrived for work at DAPA at Government Complex Gwacheon on the morning of the 9th. He heads the agency.
In his remarks on his nomination, he emphasized the need to establish the criminal justice system. Lee said, “I understand the President’s nomination of me as a candidate for Minister of Justice to mean that I should successfully complete prosecution reform with the original resolve with which it began and establish the new criminal justice system at an early date.” He added, “I will pay close attention to the transfer of cases and functions so that investigative agencies, including the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, can maintain their ability to respond to major crimes such as economic and drug-related offenses, even after the investigation deferral period granted to prosecutors ends.”
He addressed the Daejang-dong allegations in two parts. Lee said, “Dong-gyu Yu was appointed in 2010, and at the time the Seongnam Facilities Management Corporation had nothing to do with the Daejang-dong project.” He added, “Before the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation was established, Dong-gyu Yu briefly resigned from his post as a division head at the Facilities Management Corporation and was later reappointed. I had absolutely no involvement in that appointment process.” In other words, the corporation’s work was unrelated to Daejang-dong when Yu was appointed in 2010, and Lee had no involvement in his subsequent reappointment. Lee added, “I know almost nothing about the Daejang-dong project, then or now.”
Lee directly addressed the remarks by former director Yu. As he was about to wrap up the Q&A, he said, “I saw in a Chosun Ilbo article this morning that Dong-gyu Yu had viciously slandered me,” and continued his rebuttal.
On the gambling allegations, Lee said, “I cannot help but ask whether it is reasonable to remember in detail, as if it happened yesterday, an event from more than a decade ago—including exactly which restaurant it was and exactly how many million won was wagered.” He added, “I have never engaged in high-stakes gambling beyond occasional entertainment with family or friends.”
He also pushed back against the suggestion that he would unquestioningly carry out the President’s instructions. Lee said, “I wish you would give even one concrete example of me carrying out the President’s orders regardless of the consequences.”
On the withdrawal of the indictment, he pointed to the special counsel law. Lee said, “The President proposed that the special counsel appointed by the National Assembly focus solely on establishing the facts, excluding the transfer of existing cases, and the National Assembly enacted the special counsel law accordingly.” He added, “I think it is right from now on to focus solely on establishing the facts, and that it is advisable to handle everything else in accordance with the law and principles.”
In response to criticism over his personal relationship with President Lee, he said, “I do not think my relationship with the President would disqualify me from serving as a minister.” Asked about his lack of experience in administering the Ministry of Justice, he said, “I believe I can more than make up for any shortcomings by drawing on my 30-year career as a legal professional and my administrative experience leading a large organization like DAPA capably.”

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