Nuclear Power Investigation Accelerates, Now Targeting Higher-Ups... Conflict Between 'Chu·Yoon' Expected to Deepen

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] As public officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy were arrested on charges including deleting internal data related to the Wolsong Unit 1 nuclear power plant, the prosecution's investigation is expected to accelerate. Investigations targeting former Minister of Industry Baek Woon-gyu and the so-called higher-ups at the Blue House will also be in full swing. Some speculate that meaningful investigation results may emerge before the disciplinary committee meeting for Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol scheduled for the 10th.

On the night of the 4th, Judge Oh Se-yong, in charge of warrants at the Daejeon District Court, issued pre-arrest warrants for two Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy officials at the director level, including Mr. A, who is accused of damaging public electronic records and violating the Board of Audit and Inspection Act. Judge Oh stated that the warrants were issued because the suspects denied the charges and there was concern over evidence destruction. This means that a significant portion of the criminal charges cited in the arrest warrants by the prosecution has been substantiated.

One official at the manager level, for whom a warrant was also requested, was denied the warrant on the grounds that "he generally admitted to the alleged crimes and, considering the evidence already secured, there is little concern about evidence destruction or flight risk."

The pre-arrest detention hearing, which began at 2:30 p.m. that day, lasted about 4 hours and 50 minutes amid intense disputes between the prosecution and defense attorneys. Mr. A is accused of ordering the deletion of data related to Wolsong Unit 1 around November last year, just before the Board of Audit and Inspection requested the submission of materials. Mr. B, a subordinate who was also arrested, reportedly entered the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy office at the Government Sejong Complex on a weekend night and deleted 444 files related to Wolsong Unit 1 over approximately two hours from a PC he had previously used, according to the Board of Audit and Inspection and others.

In legal circles, it is expected that the prosecution's investigation will speed up following the arrest of key suspects. Targets include former Minister Baek Woon-gyu and then-Blue House Industrial Policy Secretary Chae Hee-bong (currently President of Korea Gas Corporation). The core of the prosecution's investigation is whether former Minister Baek and the Blue House higher-ups were involved or gave instructions. Summons and interrogations of former Minister Baek and others are expected soon, which will likely reveal the truth behind allegations of manipulated economic feasibility evaluations aimed at the early shutdown of Wolsong Unit 1.

With the arrest of key suspects, Prosecutor General Yoon's side has also gained an advantage in the public opinion battle. On his first day back at work on the 2nd, Yoon prioritized the nuclear power plant investigation, and the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office requested arrest warrants for three Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy officials that very night, just one day after Yoon's return. However, as the nuclear power plant investigation gains momentum, the conflict between Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon is expected to deepen. The ruling party's intensified offensive against Prosecutor General Yoon, who is leading the nuclear power plant investigation, leaves little room for political compromise.

Meanwhile, Minister Choo has filed an immediate appeal against the court's decision to suspend the enforcement of Prosecutor General Yoon's job suspension. This came just five hours after Yoon's side announced plans to file a constitutional complaint against the Prosecutor Disciplinary Act. The holding of the disciplinary committee scheduled for the 10th has become uncertain.

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