'Ddal Budangteukhye Uihok'... Nakyungwon Search Warrant Dismissed

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The court recently dismissed the search warrant related to allegations of admission fraud involving the children of former Future United Party (now People Power Party) lawmaker Na Kyung-won. The investigation, which aimed to accelerate through case reassignment, is also expected to face setbacks.

According to the legal community on the 23rd, the Criminal Division 7 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Byung-seok) recently requested a search warrant related to Special Olympics Korea (SOK), chaired by former lawmaker Na, but the court rejected it.

Former lawmaker Na has been reported to the prosecution ten times since September last year regarding allegations of admission and recruitment fraud involving her children, corruption at Hongshin Academy, privatization and undue preferential treatment of SOK. SOK is a non-profit organization under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, where Na served as chairperson from 2011 to 2016. Since Na stepped down from the chair position in July 2016, her daughter has held an ex officio director position.

The case involving former lawmaker Na was initially assigned to the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Byun Pil-geon), but was reassigned to the Criminal Division 7 on the 8th, accelerating the investigation. Additionally, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae responded during last week's National Assembly government questioning regarding Na's case, stating, "Because there were instances of selective justice and selective investigation by the top leadership, which either exaggerated or overlooked cases that should not have been, or did not initiate investigations, I believe it is necessary to establish measures to prevent such occurrences."

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's SOK audit results released in March, Na's daughter did not receive approval from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism during the director appointment process. Furthermore, there was inappropriate handling of business, such as using income from leasing the office building for SOK operating expenses in violation of regulations.

Meanwhile, the prosecution summoned and questioned a Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official on the 22nd.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.