[2025 National Audit] Chief Odongun of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office Responds to 'Three Years of Board of Audit and Inspection Investigation' Criticism: "Results by Year-End"

In response to criticism over poor performance,
"The number of cases is naturally low"

Odongun, Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office, announced that the investigation into the "Board of Audit and Inspection targeted audit allegations" will be concluded by the end of the year. In response to criticism about poor performance, he explained, "The number of cases is naturally low."

Odongun, Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (HOCID), is reporting on duties at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of HOCID held in Yeouido, Seoul on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 24th, during the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office, Assemblyman Park Kyuntaek of the Democratic Party of Korea pointed out, "It has been nearly three years since Choi Jaehae, Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, was reported," to which Chief Odongun responded accordingly.

When Assemblyman Park further questioned, "Isn't it possible that the influence comes from the fact that former President Yoon Sukyeol was the appointing authority?" Chief Odongun replied, "Not at all. We are doing our best with limited personnel." He explained that the cases involving Choi Jaehae, Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, Yoo Byungho, Audit Commissioner, and the bribery case of former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Choi Sangmok remain with the office.

When Assemblyman Park asked if the cases could be resolved by November, Chief Odongun replied, "We will strive to achieve results in both November and December."

Chairman Choi has been accused of conducting a "targeted audit" in 2022, the first year of the Yoon Sukyeol administration, by requesting various materials from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission under the pretext of a special audit, allegedly to force Jeon Hyunhee, then a Democratic Party lawmaker and head of the commission, to resign. Later that year, Assemblywoman Jeon filed a complaint with the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office against Chairman Choi and Yoo Byungho, then Secretary General of the Board of Audit and Inspection, on charges including abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights.

In 2023, the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office conducted a search and seizure of the Board of Audit and Inspection and summoned Yoo, then Secretary General, for questioning. Although the investigation did not progress further at the time, after the change of administration, Chairman Choi was summoned as a suspect for questioning on the 18th of this month.

On this day, there was also criticism regarding the office's poor performance. Assemblyman Joo Jinwoo of the People Power Party pointed out, "The office has spent 77.6 billion won over the past five years but has only prosecuted six cases. It also spends 100 million won annually on special activity expenses. If it were a private company, it would have shut down." In response, Chief Odongun said, "As an agency dealing specifically with certain crimes committed by high-ranking officials, the number of cases is inevitably low," but added, "I will take your comments seriously and do my best."

Additionally, Assemblyman Kim Gipyo of the Democratic Party of Korea remarked, "Regardless of party affiliation, there is a common perception that when cases are reported to the office, they are not handled or there are no results." Chief Odongun responded, "When we focused on investigating an insurrection, we achieved the result of arresting a sitting president within 43 days." He continued, "I always examine whether there are areas where I am lacking and listen carefully to my subordinates. I will continue to monitor whether there are any shortcomings in our investigations."