Park Beom-gye: "'Daejang-dong' Special Investigation Team Approved the Day After Prosecutor General's Request"

Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Regarding the 'Daejang-dong scandal,' Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, stated that he approved Kim Oh-soo, Prosecutor General's request to form a 'special investigation team.'

On the morning of the 29th, Minister Park, upon entering the Ministry of Justice Government Gwacheon Building, told reporters, "I received the request and approved it immediately the day before."

The dedicated investigation team for the Daejang-dong development scandal is composed of all eight prosecutors from the Economic Crime Criminal Division under the leadership of Kim Tae-hoon, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the 4th Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, three prosecutors from the Public Investigation Division 2, one prosecutor from the Anti-Corruption and Strong Investigation Cooperation Division, three prosecutors dispatched from other prosecutor's offices, and accounting analysis investigators from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Minister Park explained, "Rather than a special investigation headquarters, it is a combination of the Public Investigation Division 2 and the Economic Crime Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office," adding, "The Prosecutor General had the will to investigate the truth specially and swiftly without bias, so I approved it immediately."

Regarding the size of the investigation team, he said, "I don't know the number of personnel," but added, "If prosecutors from other prosecutor's offices are brought in for the investigation, the minister's approval is required," and "It is appropriate to refer to it as a special investigation team."

Meanwhile, concerning the allegations about former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's 'mother-in-law's legal documents,' Minister Park said, "I don't think this is the only case. Each investigative and investigative body is working hard," and "I believe it will be clearly revealed and the truth will be uncovered."

Regarding discussions about the 'abolition of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Investigation Information Office,' he said, "Discussions are ongoing," and "I plan to mention it during the National Assembly inspection."