Allegations of 'Seoul City Deputy Chief of Staff's Speculation'... Police Investigate Complainant

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 28th that they summoned and investigated members of the Justice Party who reported allegations of real estate speculation against Hwang Bo-yeon, Acting Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Planning and Coordination Office.

On the day, Jeong Jae-min, Chairman of the Justice Party Seoul City Committee, and Kwon Soo-jung, a Seoul City Council member from the Justice Party, urged a thorough investigation before the complainant investigation, stating, "Acting Director Hwang is a high-ranking public official directly involved in the redevelopment project."

They filed a complaint with the National Investigation Headquarters of the Police Agency on the 4th, accusing Acting Director Hwang of violating the Public Officials Ethics Act (duty to prevent conflicts of interest). During the approval process for the Hannam 3 District redevelopment project in November 2017, Acting Director Hwang, who was the approver of the environmental impact assessment review report, is alleged to have acquired a house and land worth approximately 1 billion KRW in the district just nine days after approving the assessment report. Among Hannam Districts 1 to 5, only District 3 had redevelopment project approval, and purchasing land and housing at that time, just before the project approval, would have been practically impossible without using insider information.

Meanwhile, Acting Director Hwang was nominated as the candidate for Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Planning and Coordination Office but was replaced during the Blue House personnel screening process due to real estate issues.

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