'Choi Moon-soon Administration' and 'Legoland Suspicion Risk'

Civic Group Urges "Arrest and Investigation of Suspects in Legoland Corruption Allegations"
Police Investigating Former Gangwon Governor Choi Moon-soon for Embezzlement and Breach of Trust Charges

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] The various corruption allegations surrounding the Chuncheon Legoland project, which former Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon had prioritized, have deepened as a senior public official in charge of the project was found dead ahead of a prosecution investigation.

So far, suspicions regarding former Governor Choi and the 'Legoland' project have been raised mainly by civic groups, leading to criticism, accusations, and investigations. In particular, the construction of infrastructure has been under investigation from the early stages due to corruption allegations involving the public officials responsible for the work.

The Civic Group Jungdobonbu urged the arrest and investigation of suspects related to the Legoland project.
[Photo provided by Jungdobonbu]

The former Global Business Director (former Deputy Mayor of Chuncheon) was sentenced to six months in prison with a one-year probation in April 2018 for corruption charges during his tenure. The deceased public official, Mr. A, was also questioned by prosecutors at that time as a witness.

In January 2020, Mr. A, who applied for early retirement with about two years left until retirement, was again subjected to a prosecution investigation following the so-called 'Legoland-triggered financial crisis' in November last year, and was found dead on the 8th.

The police are investigating the exact cause of death, ruling out homicide.

Kim Jong-moon, head of the Civic Group Jungdo Headquarters (Chuncheon Jungdo Prehistoric Site Preservation Headquarters), stated, "The suspicious death of a senior public official involved in the Legoland project just before the prosecution investigation reminds us of the deaths of key figures related to the Daejang-dong case before their prosecution investigations," and emphasized, "There is concern about evidence destruction, so suspects must be immediately detained and investigated."

He added, "During former Governor Choi Moon-soon's administration, Gangwon Jungdo Development Corporation (GJC), a Gangwon Province-invested institution, allocated 18 billion KRW (including sand purchase costs) for the prehistoric site backfilling work out of the 47.5 billion KRW for Legoland infrastructure construction, but instead of using sand, various construction wastes were buried."

Earlier, in November 2015, the Cultural Heritage Administration's Subcommittee on Buried Cultural Properties conditionally approved the 'Preservation Plan for the Legoland Tourist Facility Site,' requiring "30 cm of sand and more than 1.5 m of onsite soil backfill" over Bronze Age dwelling remains.

At that time, the Cultural Heritage Administration judged that tens of thousands of tons of sand, 30 cm in height, were necessary for development at the Jungdo site, where 1,266 prehistoric house sites were discovered.

In April 2020, a large amount of illegally dumped construction waste was discovered at the Legoland infrastructure construction site.
[Photo by Jungdobonbu]

However, in April 2020, illegal landfill of construction waste such as waste concrete was confirmed at the Legoland infrastructure construction site, including the Jungdo site.

On December 29 of the same year, GJC and several other project operators were sent to the prosecution with indictments (Case No. 2021형제2971) for violating the Cultural Heritage Administration's administrative orders by illegally dumping waste instead of sand at the site.

Before the Legoland groundbreaking in 2014, over 1,400 Bronze Age relics were discovered on the project site, causing controversy over cultural heritage damage, construction delays, and financial difficulties for the project.

As a countermeasure, the province expanded the Legoland project debt guarantee from 21 billion KRW to 205 billion KRW without the approval of the Provincial Council, sparking controversy.

During Choi Moon-soon's administration, in December 2018, through the Legoland MDA (Master Development Agreement) signed with Merlin UK, 80,000 pyeong of the Jungdo site was leased free of charge to Legoland Korea (50 years free + 50 years extension), and GJC invested 80 billion KRW in construction costs to Merlin.

In this process, Gangwon Province guaranteed ownership of the land leased free of charge to Merlin and allowed subleasing of the land.

Furthermore, if problems arise from subleasing and other acts, Gangwon Province is to compensate Merlin for damages, and this clause was kept confidential, leading to criticism as an "unfair slave contract" and suspicions of backdoor dealings.

Contents of the consent agreement on the change of rights and obligations in Gangwon Province signed with Legoland Korea [Image provided by Jungdo Headquarters]

Because of this, allegations of breach of duty, abuse of authority, dereliction of duty, and violations of the Local Finance Act for parts not approved by the Provincial Council have been continuously raised against former Governor Choi and senior public officials and provincial council members.

However, as no proper measures were taken by the government at the time, the Jungdo Headquarters refiled a complaint with the prosecution in November last year regarding embezzlement suspicions related to Legoland infrastructure construction costs against former Governor Choi and GJC, and the case is currently under investigation by Chuncheon Police Station.

Previously, the Citizens' Committee to Urge Suspension of Legoland filed four complaints and petitions with both the prosecution and police since 2019, accusing the Gangwon Province executive branch of breach of duty and abuse of authority.

The National Coalition for Jungdo Site Preservation also repeatedly filed complaints with the prosecution against the provincial executive branch and the Cultural Heritage Administration head for dereliction of duty and violations of the Cultural Heritage Protection Act.

The Gangwon Provincial Police Agency is investigating the Legoland-related complaint filed by Gangwon Provincial Assembly member Park Ki-young last year and allegations of preferential land sales raised by the Gangwon Peace Economy Research Institute.

Former Governor Choi is currently under prosecution investigation as a suspect for obstructing the bidding process for the Pyeongchang Alpensia Resort. The prosecution has imposed a travel ban on him.

Chuncheon Candlelight Action & Livelihood Economy Research Institute filed a complaint with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials against Governor Kim Jin-tae of Gangwon Province, holding him responsible for the 'Legoland-triggered financial crisis.'

The Gangwon provincial government hopes that, free from political strife, swift investigations into the raised suspicions will be conducted to resolve the situation as soon as possible.

On May 15, 2018, before signing the Legoland MDA, Choi Moon-soon, Governor of Gangwon Province, is presenting a bouquet to John Jacobson, General Manager of Merlin's Legoland, during his visit to Gangwon Province.
[Photo by Jungdo Headquarters]

A Gangwon Province Investment Attraction Division official reportedly told Kim Jong-moon during a meeting, "If the judiciary finds wrongdoing, someone will have to take responsibility."