Suspicion of Billion-Won Lobbying in Seoul Underground Shopping Mall Bid... Police Investigate Former and Current City Council Members

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] It has been confirmed that the police are investigating former and current Seoul city council members and the representative of the underground shopping mall merchants' association on charges of accepting bribes worth hundreds of millions of won along with solicitation for re-bidding the operation rights of underground shopping malls at major subway stations in Seoul.

According to the police on the 24th, the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has booked two former and current Seoul city council members on charges of bribery and mediation under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. Officials from the underground shopping mall merchants' association who provided money and goods to them have also been booked.

Former Seoul city council member A is accused of receiving 135 million won three times from June 2019 to January last year from representatives of the merchants' associations of the underground shopping malls at Yeongdeungpo Station, Express Bus Terminal Station, and Gangnam Station, and then delivering 34 million won to council member B, who was serving as a committee member related to underground shopping mall operations at the Seoul City Council at the time.

A reportedly demanded money from C, the representative of the Yeongdeungpo Station underground shopping mall merchants' association, whom he knew, promising to arrange for the re-bidding of the mall operation rights to be conducted through a private contract. C is said to have collected money together with other underground shopping mall merchants' associations and delivered it. However, as the re-bidding progress stalled, the representative of the Gangnam Station underground shopping mall merchants' association filed a complaint against A and others with the police in May last year.

A and council member B are reported to have admitted to a significant part of the charges during the police investigation. The police are expected to conclude the investigation soon and decide whether to send the case for prosecution.