Detention Warrant for Baek Woon-gyu Rejected... Prosecution's Move Toward Cheong Blocked

"Lack of Evidence for Criminal Charges"... Investigation on Senior Officials Including Chae Hee-bong Halted, Criticism of 'Political Investigation' Expected to Intensify

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Baek Kyunghwan and Kim Daehyun] The investigation into the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 has entered a new phase following the dismissal of the arrest warrant for former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Baek Woon-gyu, who was accused of manipulating the economic feasibility evaluation of the plant. The court's decision, which effectively sided with former Minister Baek, has put a brake on the prosecution's investigation headed toward the Blue House. Criticism is growing that the investigation led by Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and the nuclear power investigation team is politically motivated.

On the 9th, Judge Oh Seyong, head of the warrant division at Daejeon District Court, who presided over Baek's pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant substantive examination), cited ▲insufficient evidence of criminal charges, ▲the presence of disputable issues, and ▲the need to guarantee the right to defense as reasons for dismissing the warrant.

The judge rejected the prosecution's argument that Baek intervened in Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's manipulation of the economic feasibility evaluation to facilitate the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1 in 2018 and obstructed the legitimate duties of KHNP. Instead, the judge accepted Baek's claim that proper procedures were followed. Judge Oh had previously presided over the warrant hearings for two Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy officials who were arrested and indicted on charges including deletion of Wolseong nuclear power plant data, making it difficult for the prosecution to blame the court and respond with opposition.

The prosecution's investigation, which was heading toward Chae Hee-bong, president of Korea Gas Corporation and former Blue House Industrial Policy Secretary, is expected to face setbacks. Inside and outside the prosecution, there was widespread speculation that after detaining former Minister Baek, the prosecution would summon former Secretary Chae, who conveyed the policy of early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1 to the Ministry, and former Senior Presidential Secretary for Social Affairs Kim Soo-hyun, who led the nuclear phase-out policy.

With the failure to detain former Minister Baek, it has become difficult to prove whether the Blue House exerted influence over the evaluation process of Wolseong Unit 1. Although the prosecution stated it finds the reasons for the warrant dismissal hard to accept and intends to conduct a more thorough investigation, it is highly likely to prioritize completing supplementary investigations related to the charges against Ministry officials, including former Minister Baek, rather than pursuing higher-level investigations.

The mounting criticism toward the prosecution is a burdensome issue. The dismissal of the warrant strengthens the claims from ruling party and government officials demanding an immediate halt to what they call excessive political investigations into government policies.

Moreover, since the nuclear power investigation was one of the first matters Prosecutor General Yoon handled after returning from disciplinary action at the end of last year, it could potentially bolster the ruling party's push for prosecution reform. Meanwhile, a variable factor is the report filed by the Citizens' Action for Nuclear Revival (Citizens' Action) the previous day, accusing former Senior Secretary Kim, former Science and Technology Advisor Moon Mi-ok, and former Climate and Environment Secretary Kim Hye-ae of abuse of authority. Former Senior Secretary Kim was the head of the Blue House Energy Policy Task Force (TF) at the time, and former Advisor Moon and former Secretary Kim were known to have participated in this TF.

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