'Speed Battle' Gyeonggi Nambu Cheong - 'Cautious Mode' Seoul Cheong... Temperature Difference in Regime Investigation

Gyeonggi Nambu Cheong, Kim Hye-kyung's Allegations Raided - No Jeong-hee Investigation & Eun Su-mi Summoned
Seoul Cheong, Three Complaints on Kim Jung-sook's Clothing Expenses... Investigation Schedule Not Yet Set
Both Leaders Are Leading Candidates for Next Police Chief... Officials Say "We Will Speak with Results"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Seongpil Jo, Byungseon Gong, Gyumin Oh] The police investigation targeting the current administration has officially begun. The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency signaled the start by launching a forced investigation into allegations of misuse of corporate cards by Kim Hye-kyung, spouse of former Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung. At the same time, within the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency, an investigation of the accuser related to the case of Noh Jeong-hee, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission, was underway. In the afternoon, Eun Soo-mi, Mayor of Seongnam City, was summoned for questioning regarding allegations of irregular hiring at Seohyeon Library. Meanwhile, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, responsible for another axis of the administration investigation, only received another complaint related to the controversy over First Lady Kim Jung-sook’s clothing expenses. This has led to evaluations that the fortunes of the two leading candidates vying for the next Police Commissioner position are sharply diverging.

Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency Accelerates ‘Three-Pronged Investigation’

The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency directed its focus sharply at the current administration by dividing its efforts into three branches. Regarding allegations of misuse of corporate cards by Kim, spouse of the former candidate, a search and seizure operation at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office lasted an extensive 11 hours on the 4th. Investigators were deployed to the General Affairs Division, where corporate card usage records are kept, and the Audit Office, which holds inspection records, to collect related materials. The search and seizure was conducted three weeks after the accuser’s investigation, and there is speculation that Kim’s summons is imminent. There is also discussion about the possibility that former candidate Lee himself could be brought under investigation. He is a defendant in this case and, as the then Governor of Gyeonggi Province who held approval authority over the corporate cards, could be considered the party who authorized ‘personal misuse.’

On the same day, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division of the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency also began a full-scale investigation into the complaint against Chairperson Noh of the Central Election Commission, who has been embroiled in controversy over poor management and operation of early voting for the 20th presidential election, known as the ‘Sokuri Election.’ They summoned Oh Sang-jong, representative of the Korea Freedom Patriots Corps, among others, for accuser questioning. Chairperson Noh has refused to resign voluntarily and is expected to maintain her position until the local elections on June 1, while also undergoing police investigation. Noh is a sitting Supreme Court Justice from the progressive judges’ group, Uri Law Research Association, appointed by President Moon Jae-in. The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency also summoned Eun Soo-mi, Mayor of Seongnam City, on the same day for questioning. Mayor Eun, affiliated with the Democratic Party, is suspected of irregularly hiring personnel from her election campaign to city-affiliated institutions. She was summoned as a suspect the previous afternoon.

The appearance of the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s ‘Three Complaints’ Slow Progress

The Anti-Corruption Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is investigating complaints related to the controversy over First Lady Kim Jung-sook’s clothing expenses. By the morning of that day, three complaints related to this case had been received, but it is reported that the process of scheduling accuser questioning has not yet begun. The allegations center on claims that the Blue House’s special activity funds included costs for clothing and accessories worn by Kim during overseas trips and other events. This issue arose after the Seoul Administrative Court’s Administrative Division 5 (Chief Judge Jeong Sang-gyu) in February ruled to cancel the 2018 July decision to withhold information and ordered partial disclosure to the Taxpayers Federation, prompting the Blue House to appeal. Subsequently, the civic group People’s Livelihood Countermeasures Committee filed a complaint against Kim for embezzlement and other charges with the Seoul Police Agency on the 25th of last month, igniting the controversy.

Following the civic group’s complaint and mounting controversy, the Blue House reiterated its policy of non-disclosure of special activity funds and stated that Kim purchased the clothing and accessories with her own money. After this announcement, on the 28th of the same month, the civic group filed an additional complaint against Kim for spreading false information and obstructing business, arguing that she confused the public by changing her story to say she bought the items with personal funds after the initial complaint. On the 3rd, the group further filed complaints against Kim’s regular designer Yang Hae-il, CEO of Haeil, Kim Hae-ja, CEO of Nubi Workshop, and Jeon Tae-soo, CEO of JS Shoes Design Institute, for violations including the Anti-Graft Act and tax evasion. It is alleged that when supplying clothing and accessories to Kim, they received cash payments exceeding 100,000 won without issuing receipts, violating the Income Tax Act. The civic group has submitted a petition for a search and seizure of the Blue House to urge investigation, but the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Anti-Corruption Crime Investigation Division is reportedly still in the complaint review stage.

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency file photo / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Contrasting Fortunes of Chiefs Choi Seung-ryeol and Choi Gwan-ho

The heads of the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency are considered leading candidates for the next Police Commissioner. Both Chief Choi Seung-ryeol of Gyeonggi Nambu and Chief Choi Gwan-ho of Seoul hold the rank of Senior Superintendent General and are regarded as potential Police Commissioner candidates. A common factor fueling their competition is that both come from the cadre candidate track. The current Police Commissioner, Kim Chang-ryong, who leads 130,000 police officers, will complete his term in July.

Both the Gyeonggi Nambu and Seoul Police Agencies have handled various complaints and lawsuits against presidential candidates from both ruling and opposition parties even before the presidential election, attracting attention both within the police and among the public. To minimize the impact on the election during the campaign period, related investigations were postponed, but after the election, their investigations have diverged, leading to contrasting outcomes. A police official who requested anonymity said, “Now that the election is over, political circles cannot interfere with the investigations. Both the Gyeonggi Nambu and Seoul Police Agencies will let the investigation results speak for themselves.”