Police Conduct Search and Seizure at Hanam City Council... Investigation of 24 Including Security Office Manager

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The Special Investigation Unit for Real Estate Speculation Crimes of the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency, investigating real estate speculation allegations stemming from Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), conducted a search and seizure at the office of Hanam City Council member Kim Eun-young on the 23rd. Council member Kim is suspected of land speculation under her mother's name.

Kim's mother purchased four plots of land totaling 3,509㎡ (approximately 1,063 pyeong) in Cheonhyeon-dong, Hanam City, between April and October 2017. The land was incorporated into the Gyosan New Town, and by the end of December last year, she received compensation of about 800,000 KRW per 3.3㎡, reportedly earning a profit of about twice the purchase price.

Earlier, Hanam City confirmed that four plots of land totaling 2,477㎡ in Cheonhyeon-dong, registered under Kim's husband's name, had been illegally altered in terms of land use. The city filed a complaint with the police for violating the Special Act on Designation and Management of Development-Restricted Areas. The land, purchased by Kim's husband in August 2007, is greenbelt forest land but has been illegally reclaimed and used as farmland. Following the allegations, Kim resigned from her party, the Democratic Party of Korea.

The Government Joint Special Investigation Headquarters assigned cases involving one security officer from the Presidential Security Service, referred by the Blue House for investigation, and 23 local government officials and employees of local public enterprises, referred by the Government Joint Investigation Team, to the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency.

It was confirmed that Mr. A, a manager at the Presidential Security Service, purchased 413㎡ of land in the 3rd New Town area jointly with family members, including the spouse of his brother who works at LH, around September 2017. Mr. A has been placed on standby. Among the 23 local government officials and local public enterprise employees suspected of speculation, Gwangmyeong City in Gyeonggi Province has the highest number with 10 people, followed by Ansan City with 4, Siheung City with 3, and Hanam City with 1. The rest include 2 from Bucheon Urban Corporation, and 1 each from Gyeonggi Urban Corporation, Gwacheon Urban Corporation, and Ansan Urban Corporation.

The Special Investigation Headquarters reportedly assigned the cases to the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency, believing that the speculation allegations of the individuals referred for investigation are linked to existing cases. A spokesperson for the Special Investigation Headquarters stated, "Interviews with witnesses, summons of suspects, and search and seizure for evidence will continue."