Survival of the Nuclear Power Investigation Team... The Remaining Issue Is Whether Baek Woon-gyu Will Be Detained

Prosecutor General Continues, Lee Doobong Retained as District Chief Prosecutor; Momentum Lost if Former Minister Baek's Warrant Denied

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] With the retention of Lee Dubong as the head of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, all internal variables in the investigation of the 'Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Economic Feasibility Evaluation Manipulation Allegation' have disappeared. In the first half of the year’s prosecution personnel reshuffle, not only the rank-and-file prosecutors but also the leadership within the investigation team have kept their positions. The only remaining issue is whether former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Baek Woon-gyu will be detained. After handling Baek’s custody, the investigation is likely to extend to the Blue House.

According to the legal community on the 8th, Daejeon District Court Chief Judge Oh Seyong, who is in charge of warrants, will conduct a pre-arrest detention hearing for former Minister Baek in the afternoon. Baek is accused of abusing his authority to improperly intervene in the economic feasibility evaluation by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) prior to the shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1 (abuse of official authority) and of obstructing the business of KHNP, the operator of the Wolseong nuclear power plant (obstruction of business).

The prosecution currently believes that Baek used his position to issue improper orders to Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy officials during the decision-making process to shut down Wolseong Unit 1. Baek, who was investigated last month as a suspect, has denied most of the charges and is expected to publicly state before the hearing that "it was a decision on national policy and that he never ordered any illegal acts."

If Baek is detained, the remaining investigation will proceed as planned. This is because the legitimacy of the investigation has been recognized and all personnel variables within the investigation team have disappeared. Until now, there had been high expectations within and outside the prosecution that Lee might be transferred. Lee has completed the mandatory one-year essential post and was considered for personnel changes. Moreover, except for overseas dispatches, the nuclear power plant investigation team maintained their positions in the previous rank-and-file prosecutor reshuffle, leading to many predictions that the leadership would remain stable.

Furthermore, the nuclear power plant investigation was the first matter Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol attended to after returning from disciplinary action, and it was viewed as a thorn in the side even by the ruling party. Recently, it has been revealed that among the 530 documents deleted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy were files containing allegations of illegal surveillance, including monitoring of individuals opposing the nuclear plant shutdown.

Now, Lee and Deputy Chief Investigator Lee Sang-hyun, who is the head of the investigation team, are expected to focus on the remaining investigation and trial. The legal community is mentioning former Blue House Industrial Policy Secretary Chae Hee-bong (currently President of Korea Gas Corporation) as the next investigation target. Previously, the Board of Audit and Inspection detected signs that the early shutdown plan for the nuclear plant originated from the Blue House. The investigation team is expected to summon former Secretary Chae to verify the facts of these audit findings.

However, if Baek’s arrest warrant is dismissed, the leadership including Lee will face criticism for an unreasonable warrant request. Additionally, the investigation will lose momentum, making it virtually impossible to investigate higher-ups such as the Blue House. Since Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye mentioned that a major personnel reshuffle will take place in the second half of the year after Prosecutor General Yoon’s retirement, there is a possibility that the nuclear power plant investigation team could be disbanded empty-handed.

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