Police Launch Internal Investigation into Former Happiness Agency Chief over Family-Named Land Purchase in Sejong City

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The government’s Joint Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Headquarters), which is investigating real estate speculation allegations, has launched a preliminary investigation into the former Administrator of the Administrative City Construction Agency (Haengbok Agency), who purchased land in Sejong City under his wife’s name during his tenure.

A representative of the Special Investigation Headquarters said on the 22nd, "We have started a preliminary investigation into the allegations raised through the media," adding, "We are verifying the facts." The Administrator of the Haengbok Agency is a position overseeing the construction of the new city in Sejong and is classified at the vice-ministerial level.

Mr. A purchased two plots of land totaling 2,455㎡ in Nulwang-ri, Yeongi-myeon, Sejong City, under his wife’s name at the end of April 2017, during his tenure as the Haengbok Agency Administrator. The official land price at that time was 107,000 KRW per square meter, which rose to 154,000 KRW three years later.

Subsequently, after his retirement, at the end of November 2017, he acquired 622㎡ of land and a lightweight steel structure on the site in Bongam-ri, Yeonseo-myeon, Sejong City. Controversy arose as the nearby Wachon and Budong-ri areas were scheduled to be designated as candidate sites for the Smart National Industrial Complex.

As of this morning, the police are investigating a total of 61 cases, involving 309 suspects. Among them, 41 are public officials and 31 are employees of public institutions. Additionally, if the 23 individuals newly referred for investigation by the government’s joint investigation team last week and one security office staff member referred by the Blue House are included, the number of investigation targets is expected to increase further.

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