Daejang-dong Black Hole Buried
Whistleblower Recording Brings
Closer to Uncovering Truth
Hwacheon Daeyu Suspicion
'Excess Profit Recovery Clause' Key
[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The controversy over the accusation-for-hire scandal and the preferential treatment allegations in Daejang-dong have each taken a step closer to uncovering the truth with the emergence of a recording and a review report, respectively, which are considered the "smoking guns" (decisive evidence). The accusation-for-hire issue, which had been buried in the "Daejang-dong black hole," secured concrete evidence through the restoration of the recording. The preferential treatment allegations in Daejang-dong also entered a new phase as circumstances surrounding the deletion of the "excess profit recovery clause" were revealed.
On the 8th, Jo Seong-eun, the whistleblower in the accusation-for-hire case, appeared on the radio and said, "I am relieved that the recording file has been restored," adding, "I plan to make various choices within the scope that does not hinder the investigation." The High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Division (HOCI) reportedly confirmed from the restored recording that Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party, said, "We will write and send the accusation letter, so it would be better to have it filed at the Southern District Prosecutors' Office."
Since the link of "writing → delivering → executing" the accusation letter has been confirmed through the investigation, the ruling party is intensifying its offensive. Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting that day, "It means that there was a prosecution-People Power Party alliance, referring to the coalition between Kim Woong, then a People Power Party candidate for the National Assembly, and Son Jun-sung, former Policy Officer of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office."
However, in the legal community, the possibility of punishment for Kim and Son, who was identified as the person who delivered the accusation letter to Kim, is considered low. A lawyer who is a former chief prosecutor said, "Even if all the allegations reported in the media are true, I honestly do not know what charges can be applied to Kim." Since Kim was not a prosecutor at the time, it is difficult to apply charges such as abuse of power or violation of the Public Official Election Act (interference by public officials in elections).
Meanwhile, the "Daejang-dong preferential treatment allegations" involving Governor Lee are also changing in nature as circumstances surrounding the deletion of the excess profit recovery clause have been revealed. Accordingly, the key issue is whether Yoo Dong-gyu, then head of the planning division at the corporation, accepted a bribe and ignored it. Whether Governor Lee was aware of this is also a point of contention. The People Power Party held a launch ceremony for the "Daejang-dong Gate Special Prosecutor Promotion Tent Protest Headquarters" at the National Assembly main building that day, raising the level of criticism by urging the introduction of a special prosecutor.
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