[Breaking] Prosecution Raids Ministry of Industry... Related to 'Allegations of Economic Feasibility Manipulation of Wolseong Unit 1'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] On the morning of the 5th, the prosecution is conducting a search and seizure at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy building in relation to the 'Wolseong Unit 1 economic feasibility manipulation' case.

According to the legal community, the Criminal Division 5 of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office sent prosecutors and investigators to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy at the Government Sejong Complex to secure materials related to Wolseong Unit 1.

The Board of Audit and Inspection announced last month the audit results stating that "the economic feasibility evaluation of Wolseong Unit 1 was inappropriately underestimated."

The Board of Audit and Inspection also announced that Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy officials entered the Sejong Complex office in the early morning on the day of the audit and deleted 444 related documents.

The prosecution is reported to be conducting search and seizure targeting the Ministry's Energy Policy Office, Planning and Coordination Office, and the spokesperson's office.

In particular, it is known that a wide-ranging search and seizure is being conducted on personnel responsible for nuclear power plant-related tasks during 2017-2018.

Homes and mobile phones of related directors and section chiefs are also reported to be subject to search and seizure.

The Board of Audit and Inspection plans to hand over investigative reference materials related to the Wolseong Unit 1 audit to the prosecution. Last month, during the audit related to Wolseong Unit 1, the Board collected statements from related personnel and evidence materials, which it intends to provide to the prosecution as 'investigative reference materials.'

It is observed that after receiving the related complaint, the prosecution assigned the case to the special investigation division of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, which has jurisdiction over the Government Sejong Complex.

However, despite the search and seizure on this day, there are also views that it will be difficult to clarify any involvement of the Blue House or others.

Previously, the Board of Audit and Inspection announced that Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy officials entered the Sejong Complex office in the early morning on the day of the audit and deleted 444 related documents.

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