Pocheon Public Official Arrest Decision Today... Search and Seizure of Former Secretary Jeon Hae-cheol's Wife (Comprehensive)

Investigation Speed of Special Unit Likely to Vary Based on Warrant Review Results
Opposition's Raised Suspicions: "We Will Verify"

On the 29th, Mr. A, a Pocheon City Hall official suspected of real estate speculation at the future subway station site, is being transported for a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review) at the Uijeongbu District Court in Ganeung-dong, Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi-do.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The decision on whether to detain a Pocheon City official suspected of land speculation near the planned subway station site will be made on the 29th. This is the first case of a detention warrant request related to the investigation of real estate speculation allegations triggered by the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH).

According to the Government Joint Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Headquarters), the pre-arrest interrogation (warrant substantive examination) of Pocheon City official Mr. A was held at 10:30 a.m. today at the Uijeongbu District Court. The decision on Mr. A's detention is expected to be made late this afternoon or early the next day.

Mr. A is suspected of purchasing about 2,600㎡ of land and a one-story prefabricated building near the planned station site of the urban railway extension line in September last year, jointly with his wife, using insider information. The purchase cost of 4 billion KRW was financed through secured and unsecured loans. The police have been investigating on the premise that Mr. A used insider information obtained while handling the urban railway extension project to speculate. Mr. A is reported to deny the charges, claiming the information was already known. A Special Investigation Headquarters official said, "We judged that detention was necessary for Mr. A, so we applied for the warrant and hope it will be issued."

The Special Investigation Headquarters is currently investigating 110 internal cases and 536 external cases (as of the 26th). Among them, there are 102 current and former public officials, 32 current and former LH employees, and 322 civilians. Investigations are also tightening on lawmakers, local council members, and current and former high-ranking officials. The Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency's Special Investigation Unit for Real Estate Speculation Crimes conducted searches and seizures from 10 a.m. today at LH headquarters, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ansan City Hall, and Gyeonggi Provincial Office in connection with a complaint against Mrs. B, the wife of a former aide to former Minister of the Interior and Safety Jeon Hae-cheol.

Earlier, People Power Party lawmaker Hwang Bo-seung-ui raised speculation on social media, stating, "Mrs. B took out a loan of over 200 million KRW from Nonghyup a month before the Ansan Jangsang-dong land was designated as part of the 3rd New Town and purchased the land," raising suspicion of speculation. The Judicial Examination Preparation Group filed a complaint against Mrs. B for violating the Farmland Act with the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency the following day. The police said, "We conducted a search and seizure at Mrs. B's residence on the 27th and plan to analyze the secured materials to determine the direction of the investigation."

On the 26th, the Special Investigation Headquarters conducted searches and seizures at four locations, including the former Administrative City Construction Agency (Happiness Agency) and LH Sejong Headquarters, regarding speculation allegations against former Happiness Agency head Mr. B, and is currently analyzing the secured materials. The day before, they summoned Mr. A, a former team leader of the Investment Promotion Division at Gyeonggi Provincial Office suspected of speculation near the Yongin semiconductor cluster, and his spouse for about 12 hours of questioning, and also summoned one LH employee who triggered the investigation. A Special Investigation Headquarters official explained, "Since related investigations are ongoing nationwide, searches, seizures, and summons will continue."

The Special Investigation Headquarters also plans to verify the facts regarding the People Power Party's own investigation results, which announced that among those who acquired parcels in the Gwangmyeong-Siheung New Town since 2015, 705 names matched those of current and former LH employees. A Special Investigation Headquarters official said, "We need to verify the necessary parts."

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