Plan to Submit a Complaint Against Eldest Son No Jaeheon as Well
The prosecution, investigating allegations of slush fund concealment by the family of former President Roh Tae-woo, summoned a representative of the Military Regime Crime Proceeds Recovery Promotion Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Recovery Committee), who had filed a complaint requesting the investigation and recovery of criminal proceeds linked to former President Roh and No So-young, director of the Art Center Nabi, to conduct a complainant interview.
The Crime Proceeds Recovery Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Yoo Min-jong) summoned Kim Geun-ho, Secretary General of the Recovery Committee, on the morning of the 4th for questioning as a complainant.
Chairman Chey Tae-won of SK Group and Director Noh So-young of Art Center Nabi, who are undergoing divorce litigation. Photo by Yonhap News
The interview took place about two months after the Recovery Committee filed a complaint last October accusing former President Roh's wife, Kim Ok-sook, and director No of concealing criminal proceeds and violating the Tax Offenses Punishment Act. The prosecution's questioning of Secretary General Kim lasted approximately one hour, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The prosecution inquired about the purpose of the complaint and the application of laws cited in the complaint against the accused, according to Secretary General Kim.
During the investigation, Secretary General Kim stated, "Regarding the purpose of the complaint, it has become clear through the divorce lawsuit between Chey Tae-won and No So-young that No So-young is a key party who has managed Roh Tae-woo's concealed slush funds. The criminal proceeds concealment involving Roh Tae-woo and No So-young should be treated separately from the divorce lawsuit, and since the family court cannot hold No So-young criminally liable for concealing criminal proceeds, a criminal complaint was filed."
Secretary General Kim also testified to the prosecution, "The Act on the Punishment of Concealment of Criminal Proceeds includes provisions allowing punishment even if the statute of limitations for concealment acts has expired, provided new facts and evidence emerge. Therefore, we judged that an investigation by the authorities is possible and filed the complaint."
He emphasized, "Regarding Roh Tae-woo's slush funds, No So-young is an accomplice in concealing criminal proceeds. While it is difficult to punish former President Roh due to double jeopardy, statute of limitations, and his death, No So-young, as an accomplice and the actual manager of the concealed criminal proceeds to this day, must be held accountable."
Secretary General Kim claimed, "Although all of Roh Tae-woo's concealed criminal proceeds were not uncovered during the 1995 prosecution investigation, No So-young recently confessed to additional concealed criminal proceeds. She submitted a memo as evidence to the family court stating that 'the slush funds were kept secret only among family members,' which confirms that the immediate family of Roh Tae-woo managed the concealed illegal criminal proceeds."
He criticized, "No So-young is currently portrayed as a victim of family destruction related to Chey Tae-won's affair, but prior to that, she was clearly an accomplice in concealing criminal proceeds. She is now attempting to recover her father's concealed criminal proceeds through a cunning method of property division in the divorce lawsuit. This is a shameless and unscrupulous act of inheriting her father's criminal proceeds without paying a single tax, despite being an accomplice."
Secretary General Kim also stated, "Furthermore, the Roh family, including No So-young, has managed vast funds through the East Asia Culture Center and Art Center Nabi, and the sources and uses of these funds must be clearly disclosed."
He also argued for an investigation into Roh Tae-woo's eldest son, Roh Jae-heon, director of the East Asia Culture Center. Secretary General Kim said, "Roh Jae-heon spends astronomical amounts running the East Asia Culture Center to commemorate and idolize Roh Tae-woo, but the origin and flow of these funds have not been clarified. Therefore, the Recovery Committee believes the prosecution needs to investigate these suspicious activities and funds of the Roh family and plans to file a complaint soon regarding this matter."
Kim Geun-ho, Secretary General of the Military Regime Crime Proceeds National Treasury Recovery Promotion Committee, holding a constitutional complaint petition in front of the Constitutional Court in Jaedong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 1st of last month. Provided by the Military Regime Crime Proceeds National Treasury Recovery Promotion Committee
Earlier, on the 1st of last month, Secretary General Kim filed a constitutional complaint with the Constitutional Court, arguing that the recent ruling recognizing the recovery of Roh Tae-woo's slush funds was unconstitutional.
At that time, the Recovery Committee stated, "The Roh family has concealed the truth until now and is now trying to reclaim the slush funds, and the recent ruling recognizing this is clearly unconstitutional. We want the Roh family to tell the truth so that the public's right to know is realized and legal judgment can be made accordingly," explaining the background of the constitutional complaint.
In the constitutional complaint submitted to the Constitutional Court, the Recovery Committee argued, "Regarding the 'Roh Tae-woo slush fund memo' recently disclosed by Roh Tae-woo's daughter No So-young, the Roh family members Kim Ok-sook, No So-young, and Roh Jae-heon violated the public's right to know. The ruling and the Supreme Court's review recognizing these slush funds as personal property are clearly unconstitutional acts."
The Recovery Committee also stated, "The concealed criminal proceeds of the Roh family, including former President Roh's wife Kim Ok-sook, daughter No So-young, and son Roh Jae-heon, should be recovered to the national treasury under laws similar to the Special Act on the State Ownership of Property of Pro-Japanese and Anti-National Collaborators. Furthermore, despite being public figures, the Roh family has remained completely silent to the prosecution and media regarding the slush funds, which seriously infringes on the public's right to know, including the complainant who is a member of the press and the entire nation."
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