23 Public Officials Suspected of Speculation Referred for Investigation... Guksubon "Focusing All Investigative Resources"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] With the announcement of the second investigation results by the government joint investigation team (Joint Investigation Team), the investigation by the Government Joint Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Headquarters), which is probing real estate speculation allegations, is expected to expand further.

On the 19th, the Joint Investigation Team announced the results of the second investigation and referred a total of 23 individuals, including local government officials and employees of local public enterprises confirmed to have speculation allegations, to the Special Investigation Headquarters for investigation. Additionally, the list of 127 individuals who did not submit personal information among the investigation targets was also handed over to the Special Investigation Headquarters.

Kim Young-heon, Auditor of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, who visited the Special Investigation Headquarters for the referral on the same day, said, "I hope the Special Investigation Headquarters will thoroughly investigate and resolve public suspicions," adding, "The Joint Investigation Team will also actively cooperate."

Choi Seung-ryeol, Head of the Investigation Bureau of the National Police Agency’s National Investigation Headquarters (NIH), which oversees the Special Investigation Headquarters, emphasized, "We will concentrate all investigative efforts to uncover not only public officials but also illegal speculation under the names of relatives and nominee transactions."

The police investigation into real estate speculation allegations is progressing at an accelerated pace. On the morning of the same day, the Special Investigation Unit for Real Estate Speculation Offenders of the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency summoned and investigated multiple employees of the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH). This came 17 days after the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and the Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun) held a press conference on the 2nd to report allegations related to LH.

Among them was Kang Mo, considered a key suspect in the LH speculation allegations. Kang was the first among the LH employees under police investigation to purchase land in the 3rd New Town area, and the land he acquired is known to be the largest.

Around the same time, the Sejong Police Agency and Chungnam Police Agency conducted raids on 12 locations, including Sejong City Hall, related to speculation allegations involving public officials in the Sejong National Industrial Complex.

Nam Gu-jun, Head of the National Investigation Headquarters and leader of the Special Investigation Headquarters, held a video conference with the nationwide investigation command at 11 a.m. that day to reaffirm the commitment to the investigation. After receiving reports on the investigation status from police agencies across the country, Nam reportedly emphasized, "Do not be swayed by the National Assembly’s special prosecutor discussions and focus on the investigation."

Furthermore, continuous reports and tips have been received through the police reporting center. The reporting center, which opened on the 15th, received 275 reports over four days until the previous day. The police are said to have begun fact-checking on about 50 of these cases.

The Special Investigation Headquarters plans to continue focusing on the investigation over the upcoming weekend, analyzing seized items and suspect statements. Accordingly, it is expected that forced investigations such as additional raids and summons will continue next week.

After receiving the investigation referral from the Joint Investigation Team, the National Investigation Headquarters issued a statement saying, "We will concentrate all investigative resources to swiftly and strictly investigate not only public officials but also nominee transactions involving relatives, regardless of rank or status," emphasizing, "Regardless of the special prosecutor discussions, we will investigate all speculation allegations without exception and provide investigation results that the public can accept."

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