Prosecution starts probe into land development scandal

Sep 30, 2021, 08:51 am

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Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, the leading presidential contender of the liberal ruling Democratic Party, speaks during a televised debate hosted by MBC in Gwangju on Sept. 14, 2021./ Source: Yonhap

AsiaToday reporter Kim Hyun-goo

Prosecutors have launched a full-scale probe of political favor allegations surrounding a land development project in Seongnam’s Daejang-dong, raiding related companies. Attention is focused on whether the prosecution, which has formed a massive investigation team of 16 prosecutors, will speed up the investigation.

According to the legal circles on Wednesday, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office formed an investigation team dedicated to the Daejang-dong land development case, and raided offices of the controversial asset management firm Hwacheon Daeyu and residences of the owners of related companies.

Prosecutors also seized and searched the office of attorney Nam Wook, the owner of Hwacheon Daeyu-affiliated Cheonhwa Dongin No. 4, the residences of Hwacheon Daeyu’s largest shareholder Kim Man-bae and former acting president of the Songnam Development Corporation Yoo Dong-gyu.

Previously, the prosecution had already put travel bans on key figures in the scandal, including Yoo Dong-gyu. However, attorney Nam has reportedly moved to the United States after the Hwacheon Daeyu scandal surfaced.

In relation to the composition of the investigation team and its move, observers from inside and outside the legal circle believe that the prosecution considers the suspicion as a large-scale case and intends to expand the investigation.

Led by Prosecutor Kim Tae-hoon, the investigation team has eight prosecutors from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’s economic crimes division, three prosecutors from the public interest investigations team and one from the anti-corruption team. This is a large team compared to other large-scale cases conducted by the prosecution recently.

The recent cases in which the prosecution has gathered more than 10 prosecutors include the alleged corruption scandal of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, and the allegation of bribery and sexual scandal involving former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-eui. The prosecution sent 15 and 13 prosecutors, respectively, to the cases. The size of the Daejang-dong investigation team exceeds this level. The only case involving more manpower is the Choi Soon-sil case of manipulation of state affairs, where 20 prosecutors were dispatched.

The Hwacheon Daeyu scandal is a case with many things to be clarified as it involves Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung as well as many political and legal figures. Some argue that special prosecution is required rather than a prosecutor team in consideration of pro-government Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo.

The Daejang-dong investigation team has been organized under the direction of Prosecutor General Kim. Justice Minister Park Beom-kye said he approved the formation of the team immediately after Kim’s request. “There was Prosecutor General Kim’s will to swiftly and thoroughly get to the heart of the matter without prejudice,” the minister said.

Some believe that Prosecutor General Kim is trying to quickly close the case and pull the prosecution out of the political battle ahead of the presidential election.

“Although there are some disputes over neutrality of Prosecutor General Kim and his investigation team members. However, it will be difficult to get a biased result as it is a case of great social interest,” a lawyer in Seocho-dong said.

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