Prosecutors Launch Investigation into 'Daejang-dong Development Favoritism Allegations'... Assignment of Kim Ki-hyun's Accusation Case

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution has officially launched an investigation by assigning the so-called 'Daejang-dong Development Privilege' allegation-related complaint case.

On the 23rd, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office announced that it assigned the case, in which the election camp of Lee Jae-myung, the ruling party's presidential candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, filed a complaint against Kim Ki-hyun, the floor leader of the People Power Party, for violations of the Public Official Election Act and defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, to the Public Investigation Division 2.

The prosecution is known to have assigned the case in this manner, judging that it has the nature of an election-related case.

Accordingly, the prosecution is expected to begin a full-scale investigation into the Daejang-dong development privilege allegations. First, they may start verifying the facts related to the overall suspicions.

Although the complaint from Lee Jae-myung's camp focuses on the spread of false information, the scope of the prosecution's investigation is likely to be broader to confirm the basic facts.

Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye also stated on his way to work this morning, "(The Daejang-dong development allegations) are matters that must be swiftly clarified according to law and principles." Regarding whether to submit the investigation details to the Prosecutors' Criminal Case Disclosure Deliberation Committee for public disclosure, Minister Park said, "We will continue to monitor," adding, "Since the system is still in its early stages, it is difficult to determine how it will specifically apply to current issues."

This allegation ignited after Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management (Hwacheon Daeyu) reportedly earned enormous profits by participating in the Daejang-dong development project in Bundang-gu, Seongnam City, which was promoted while Lee Jae-myung was serving as the mayor of Seongnam in 2014. As Lee rose to first place in the ruling party's presidential candidate approval ratings, voices demanding clarification of this allegation grew louder in political circles and beyond.