Park Beom-gye "What Did the Prosecution with Investigation Rights 3 Years Ago Do About LH Land Speculation Allegations?"

Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye is attending a meeting related to the investigation cooperation on new town speculation allegations at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 10th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyeong aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] On the 11th, Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, criticized the prosecution, asking, "What did you do when you had investigative authority?" in relation to the speculation allegations involving employees of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) in the 3rd New Towns of Gwangmyeong and Siheung, Gyeonggi Province.

That morning, Minister Park explained in a phone interview with TBS Radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' that the prosecution cannot directly investigate the current land speculation allegations due to the investigative authority adjustment implemented this year.

He stated, "The 3rd New Towns issue has been around since 2018, and real estate or apartment speculation has already been a problem for 2 to 3 years, so I cannot help but point out what was done when there was investigative authority."

He continued, "This investigation is one where the prosecution's role can be greatly highlighted after the police transfer the case, and even now, it is necessary to promptly carry out the recovery of criminal proceeds, that is, if the police apply for preservation measures, the prosecution should quickly file a petition to the court."

Minister Park emphasized, "From this year, due to institutional adjustments where the prosecution cannot exercise direct investigative authority, the police are conducting this investigation. It is not that the prosecution deliberately took away the authority." He added, "The prosecution has roles in preparation after case transfer and in maintaining the public prosecution."

Regarding additional cooperation measures between the prosecution and police, he said, "We are currently negotiating the dispatch of practical investigators with specialized knowledge in this area."

However, criticism immediately arose within the prosecution.

A senior prosecution official responded to Minister Park's interview, saying, "If you ask what the prosecution did in 2018, I want to retort by asking what the Moon Jae-in administration, which personally oversaw all affairs (mangi-chinram), was doing at that time," and added, "Is the government saying it knew about this and covered it up?"

He further added, "The LH case did not even break out at that time, so speaking like this is sophistry."

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