Today's Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office National Assembly Inspection... Expected Investigation Disputes Related to Daejang-dong and Yoon Seok-yeol

Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seocho-dong, Seoul. / Photo by Seokjin Choi

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] As the suspicion of 'preferential treatment and lobbying in the Daejang-dong development project' has emerged as the biggest issue in the political arena, a national audit of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, which is investigating the case, will be held on the 14th.

Since the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office is also conducting investigations into former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, one of the leading opposition presidential candidates, as well as Yoon's wife and mother-in-law, a heated confrontation between ruling and opposition party lawmakers is expected.

The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee will conduct a national audit from 10 a.m. at the National Assembly on the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office, Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, Suwon High Prosecutors' Office, and Suwon District Prosecutors' Office.

During the audit, opposition lawmakers are expected to raise numerous questions regarding the investigation into the Daejang-dong allegations involving Lee Jae-myung, the governor of Gyeonggi Province and the confirmed presidential candidate of the ruling party.

The dedicated investigation team at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office has accelerated the investigation by arresting Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of planning at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, and requesting an arrest warrant for Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu, but has yet to initiate any forced investigations such as raids on Seongnam City Hall.

Since Seongnam City, which supervises and manages the affairs of the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, was responsible for various project approvals and permits related to the Daejang-dong development project, securing various pieces of evidence held by Seongnam City is essential for the investigation.

However, as the prosecution and police have delayed their raids, some suspect that the prosecution and police have been passive from the beginning regarding investigations related to Governor Lee.

Therefore, during the audit, opposition lawmakers are expected to press for reasons behind the delayed initiation of forced investigations by the prosecution on Seongnam City.

Criticism is also expected regarding the mishandling of the investigation into the mobile phone that Yoo Dong-gyu threw out the window during a raid, including the failure to properly examine nearby CCTV footage and the issuance of incorrect public statements. The police found the mobile phone through CCTV investigation just one day after receiving the complaint, which the prosecution had failed to locate, causing controversy.

In response to such opposition attacks, ruling party lawmakers are likely to counterattack by urging a thorough investigation into former People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Sang-do, whose son received a retirement payment of 5 billion won from Hwacheon Daeyu, and former Future Korea Party leader Won Yoo-chul, who received a large advisory fee from Hwacheon Daeyu, labeling this case as a 'People Power Party gate.'

Additionally, ruling party lawmakers are expected to question the progress of investigations into former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, his wife Kim Kun-hee, and mother-in-law Choi, all under investigation by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, urging a strict and swift investigation to conclude the cases as soon as possible.

Although the 'accusation coaching' case has already been transferred by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, ruling party lawmakers are expected to continue their inquiries and attacks against former Prosecutor General Yoon.

Furthermore, criticism is anticipated regarding the 'lenient investigation' of the 'prosecutor's drinking party' case investigated by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office at the end of last year.