Yoon orders investigation into allegedly corrupt solar energy project

Jun 15, 2023, 07:58 am

		0
President Yoon Suk-yeol is waiting to welcome people of national merit and their families for a luncheon meeting at the former presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on June 14, 2023./ Source: The Presidential Office

AsiaToday reporter Lee Wook-jae

President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered the office of the presidential secretary for civil service discipline on Wednesday to “carry out a thorough investigation into the decision-makers behind allegedly corrupt solar energy projects,” presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon said during a briefing.

The order came a day after the state Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) released the tentative results of an audit on renewable energy projects. The president’s order for an additional thorough investigation into the results of the allegedly corrupt solar panel project indicate that the corruption is deep-rooted and serious. The investigation is expected to extend to all directions as political circles say the “solar project corruption” is another “Daejang-dong land development scandal”.

Regarding the order, a key presidential official said the probe is not about looking into the previous administration, but into solar project corruption, adding, “The secretariat will probe areas yet to be verified by the audit agency.”

The official said that depending on the results of the investigation, disciplinary action could be sought against those responsible, and in the event of clear violations of the law, those people could be referred to the prosecution for a formal investigation.

Earlier, the BAI had requested a probe on a total of 38 individuals, including Gunsan Mayor Kang Im-joon and two former industry ministry officials, after finding irregularities in several energy projects launched over the past four to five years. The audit agency is currently conducting an additional audit of 250 public officials for moonlighting in solar panel businesses without authorization. Since it is in the middle of the investigation, the number of subjects to be investigated could increase significantly if the allegations of those involved become clear.

It is also noteworthy that President Yoon handed down the order to the presidential secretary for public office discipline by pointing out the “decision making process.” Some analysts say that it is considering the possibility that some politicians’ influence may have played a role in the process of solar project licensing or contract preferential treatment.

#Yoon Suk-yeol #solar energy #corruption #investigation #BAI