[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] On the 29th, the prosecution formed a dedicated investigation team to focus on the so-called 'Daejang-dong Development Special Favoritism Allegations' and began moving swiftly.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office announced on the 29th that under the command of Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Tae-hoon, it had formed a dedicated investigation team consisting of 16 prosecutors and accounting analysis investigators from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
The dedicated investigation team is composed of all prosecutors from the Economic Crime Criminal Division (including 9 prosecutors including the chief prosecutor), 3 prosecutors from the Public Investigation Division 2 who handled cases related to the Public Official Election Act violations, 1 prosecutor from the Anti-Corruption and Strong Investigation Cooperation Division, and 3 dispatched prosecutors, totaling 16 members.
A prosecution official stated, "We plan to swiftly ascertain the substantive truth through fair and thorough investigations in accordance with legal procedures, and strictly prosecute those involved."
Justice Minister Park Beom-gye also said while arriving at the Government Complex Gwacheon on the morning of the same day, "There was the Prosecutor General's will to investigate the facts quickly and without bias," and added, "Upon the Prosecutor General's request, I immediately approved the formation of the special investigation team."
The Economic Crime Criminal Division will investigate the overall promotion process of the Daejang-dong development project, the roles of then Seongnam Mayor and current Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung, and allegations of breach of duty. It will also clarify suspicions regarding the activities of the legal advisory group of asset manager Hwacheon Daeyu.
The Public Investigation Division 2 will handle the case in which Lee Jae-myung's presidential campaign filed complaints against People Power Party officials for false information disclosure charges.
On the day the dedicated investigation team was formed, it immediately conducted simultaneous raids on the bases of individuals related to the allegations to secure materials. The team sent prosecutors and investigators to Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management (Hwacheon Daeyu) and the company located in Cheongdam-dong known to be owned by lawyer Nam Wook, the actual owner of Cheonhadongin No. 4, to secure related materials.
Earlier, the Economic Crime Criminal Division also imposed travel bans on several key figures, including former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu.
Former Director Yoo served as the Planning Director of Seongnam City Facilities Management Corporation after Lee Jae-myung was elected Seongnam Mayor in 2010, and in 2014, he worked as the Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation. From 2015 to 2018, when the Daejang-dong development was in full swing, he acted as the acting president of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, overseeing the entire Daejang-dong development project and is known as the person who designed the dividend profit structure.
During this period, the 'Seongnam Utddeul' consortium, deeply connected with Hwacheon Daeyu, was selected as the private developer for the Daejang-dong development.
The prosecution is expected to soon summon former Director Yoo and others to verify the selection process of the Seongnam Utddeul consortium and the process of designing the profit dividend structure between Seongnam Urban Development Corporation and the private developers.
Separately, the prosecution recently summoned accountant Jeong Young-hak, identified as the actual owner of Cheonhadongin No. 5, which invested in Seongnam Utddeul, as a reference and questioned him.
Accountant Jeong is known to have, along with lawyer Nam Wook, the actual owner of Cheonhadongin No. 4, persuaded landowners and purchased surrounding land aiming for private development at the end of 2009, when the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) was promoting public development of Daejang-dong.
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