"Criticism of Political Prosecution for Only Conducting Convenient Investigations" Lee Su-jin Criticizes Prosecution's Investigation of Wolseong Unit 1

Lee Su-jin, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Lee Su-jin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the prosecution's investigation into the 'alleged manipulation of the economic feasibility evaluation of Wolseong Unit 1' as a "direct challenge to the Moon Jae-in administration's nuclear phase-out policy."

On the 9th, Lee posted on her Facebook, saying, "While the investigation into MB's resource diplomacy corruption is at ease, the Wolseong Unit 1 investigation is lightning-fast."

Lee pointed out, "The investigation into MB's resource diplomacy corruption, which the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy requested, has not even started after more than two years and six months, but the Wolseong Unit 1 investigation requested by the People Power Party is being carried out swiftly as if prearranged," adding, "MB's resource diplomacy corruption is a power corruption case involving an astronomical amount of taxpayers' money wasted. In comparison, the Board of Audit and Inspection's evaluation of Wolseong Unit 1 was limited to economic feasibility."

She continued, "The Board of Audit and Inspection's economic feasibility evaluation was half-baked, excluding the safety maintenance costs of Wolseong Unit 1," explaining, "It ignored safety reinforcement costs estimated at a minimum of 2 trillion won. It was a flawed evaluation focused only on profitability, which is highly controversial. That is why even the Board of Audit and Inspection did not request a prosecution investigation."

Lee said, "Nevertheless, the prosecution's intention to investigate even the government's policy decision process is a direct challenge to the Moon Jae-in administration's nuclear phase-out policy," and criticized, "It can only be seen as a political struggle in cooperation with the People Power Party."

She added, "The prosecution should conduct a normal investigation, not a political one. The prosecution is criticized for being biased because it only selects investigations that suit its taste instead of conducting investigations that appease public outrage, thus earning the stigma of being a political prosecution."

Finally, she urged, "At last month's National Assembly audit, the prosecution promised the public to promptly investigate MB's resource diplomacy corruption, but there has been no news so far," and called for, "I hope the prosecution will soon look toward the people and return as the people's prosecution."

Earlier, on the 20th of last month, the Board of Audit and Inspection announced audit results stating that the economic feasibility, which was the basis for the early shutdown decision of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1, was unreasonably undervalued.

Accordingly, the Criminal Division 5 (Public Investigation Division, Chief Lee Sang-hyun) of Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office is investigating the allegations, including conducting raids on the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Korea Gas Corporation based on materials received from the Board of Audit and Inspection on the 5th.

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