"The National Police Agency, which said 'Difficult to agree to prosecution investigating LH,' shows subtle attitude change"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] For the first time since the investigation into real estate speculation allegations triggered by the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), the police have applied for an arrest warrant for an LH employee. As forced investigations and prosecution referrals approach, the police are showing subtle changes in attitude, emphasizing cooperation with the prosecution.

According to the National Investigation Headquarters (NIH) of the National Police Agency on the 6th, the NIH has launched a forced investigation into LH employees who triggered this incident. The Special Investigation Unit for Real Estate Speculation Crimes of the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency applied for arrest warrants on the 2nd for two individuals, including a current LH employee identified as Mr. A, on charges of violating the Anti-Corruption Act (using official secrets for personal gain). Since the Lawyers for a Democratic Society and the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy raised suspicions of speculation by current and former LH employees in Gwangmyeong and new towns on the 2nd of last month, this is the first time that a detention measure has been taken against an LH employee. On the same day, the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency also applied for an arrest warrant and seizure preservation for another LH employee.

So far, the Special Investigation Unit is conducting preliminary investigations and investigations into 152 cases related to real estate speculation, involving 639 suspects. Compared to 125 cases and 576 suspects as of the 30th of last month, the number of ongoing investigations has increased by 27 cases and the number of suspects by 63. Five individuals have had arrest warrants applied for; one has been detained, and four are in the application process. Among them, an ex-executive public official from Gyeonggi Provincial Government who worked on the development of the semiconductor cluster in Yongin, Gyeonggi, had an arrest warrant applied for on the 2nd, but supplementary investigations are currently underway at the prosecution's request.

In the early stages of the LH-related investigation, the police showed discomfort regarding the prosecution's calls for investigation necessity, but their stance has since changed. On the 8th of last month, the fourth day after starting the real estate speculation investigation, Nam Gu-jun, head of the NIH, said, "A significant portion of the investigation results of the first and second phases of new towns came from the police," expressing disagreement with the prosecution's suggestion that they should investigate speculation allegations involving LH executives in the third phase of new towns. After the LH employee-related investigation failed to gain momentum, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun criticized on the 27th of last month that it was "insufficient to meet public expectations." The Special Investigation Unit was doubled in size, and a prosecution investigation team of about 500 members was also formed.

Feeling a sense of crisis, the police see this as an opportunity to demonstrate their role in the LH investigation following the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and police. As related investigations accelerate and arrest warrant applications and prosecutions proceed, cooperation with the prosecution is emphasized to show 'results.' On the previous day, Choi Seung-ryeol, head of the NIH Investigation Bureau, said, "The Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency is investigating a total of 64 people in two major groups and is reviewing some detention measures," adding, "Because it is necessary to maintain the prosecution and secure guilty verdicts and confiscate land, we are cooperating closely with the prosecution." He continued, "Investigation is our responsibility, and prosecution and maintenance of the indictment are the prosecution's responsibility," emphasizing, "Cooperation between the police and prosecution is necessary throughout the entire process from investigation to judgment."

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