Special Investigation Unit: "No Complaints or Investigation Requests Related to 'Gwanpyeongwon Ghost Building Special Attack'"

Korea Customs Service Valuation and Classification Institute. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Regarding the controversy over the special apartment supply (special supply) for public officials in Sejong City triggered by the "ghost building" of the Korea Customs Service's Customs Valuation and Classification Institute (KCCI), it has been confirmed that there is currently no separate investigation or prosecution being conducted by the government joint special investigation headquarters (Special Investigation Headquarters, SIH).

A SIH official told reporters on the 27th, "There have been no complaints or requests for investigation related to the KCCI," adding, "There are talks that the Board of Audit and Inspection will handle it, so we are monitoring the situation."

The controversy over the special supply in Sejong City, which arose from the KCCI, has led to sharp exchanges in the National Assembly day after day. The three opposition parties?People Power Party, People Party, and Justice Party?have demanded a state audit, while the ruling Democratic Party has expressed reluctance, saying "police investigation should come first."

However, since the police are currently not investigating any matters related to the KCCI, controversy is expected. The SIH previously explained, "It is currently at the stage of investigation by the Office for Government Policy Coordination, and if an investigation request is made after the investigation, an investigation will be conducted."

Regarding whether the SIH will initiate its own investigation, it responded, "The Board of Audit and Inspection said they would check first, so we are watching the situation." The Board of Audit and Inspection has previously stated that, in addition to the Korea Customs Service, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Administrative City Construction Agency (ACCA), and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will be subjects of audit related to this matter.

Additionally, the SIH reported that a pre-trial detention hearing (warrant review) by the court is scheduled for two cases of so-called "planned real estate" where land with development potential was sold by "parceling" to gain price differences.

The total number of people arrested by the SIH so far on charges including insider information speculation is 16. For 13 of them, arrest warrants were requested but were dismissed by the court. A SIH official said, "Most of the evidence has been sufficiently secured, and the warrants were dismissed on the grounds that there was no risk of flight or evidence destruction," adding, "We believe there is no particular problem up to prosecution."

The SIH also stated that for the highest-ranking former public official among those suspected of speculation?the former head of the Administrative City Construction Agency (ACCA), Mr. Lee?and Kang Mo, a key employee involved in the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) speculation allegations through 'Gang Sajang,' "supplementary investigations are being finalized."

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