'Speculation Allegations' Former Happiness Agency Chief Likely to Be Sent Without Detention... Prosecution and Police Unable to Narrow Differences

Suspected Land Purchase Using Insider Information After Retirement
Different Interpretations on Legal Application
Plan to Proceed Without Reapplying for Arrest Warrant
Special Investigation Unit Targets Over 3,000 People
Gwanpyeongwon 'Ghost Building' Allegations, Daejeon Office Under Investigation

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] It appears that Mr. A, the former head of the Administrative City Construction Agency (Haengbokcheong) who is suspected of real estate speculation, will be handed over to the prosecution without detention. It is reported that the prosecution and police have not reached an agreement on the legal interpretation.

A government joint special investigation headquarters (Special Investigation Headquarters) official investigating real estate speculation cases told reporters on the 14th, "We plan to transfer Mr. A with a recommendation for indictment without detention," adding, "We aim to conclude this within this week if possible."

The Special Investigation Headquarters had previously applied for an arrest warrant for Mr. A at the end of April on charges of violating the Act on the Prevention of Corruption and the Establishment and Operation of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Act), but the prosecution requested supplementary investigation.

The key issue was that Mr. A purchased the land three months after retiring as the head of Haengbokcheong. The police, based on the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission’s authoritative interpretation, viewed that Mr. A obtained internal information during his tenure as head of Haengbokcheong and purchased the land after retirement, thus applying the prohibition on using work-related secrets under the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Act. However, the prosecution expressed a different opinion, stating that since the relevant provision specifies "public officials," the application of the law is ambiguous.

Accordingly, the police plan to transfer Mr. A to the prosecution without reapplying for an arrest warrant. A Special Investigation Headquarters official explained, "Although there are differences in interpretation, we judge that there is no problem with punishment and plan to transfer him."

As of this day, the Special Investigation Headquarters is investigating 705 cases involving 3,079 people related to real estate speculation allegations. Among them, 759 people have been transferred to the prosecution, and 345 people have been decided not to be prosecuted or otherwise.

By type, there are 340 cases involving 1,641 people related to speculation using internal information, and 365 cases involving 1,438 people related to other real estate speculation such as planned real estate.

Among them, a total of 509 are public officials. By job category, there are 23 members of the National Assembly, 15 heads of local governments, 61 local council members, 9 high-ranking officials, 298 public officials, and 127 executives and employees of public institutions such as the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH). The Special Investigation Headquarters has arrested 25 people and obtained court approval for pre-indictment seizure and confiscation of assets worth approximately 68.3 billion KRW.

Meanwhile, regarding the special supply suspicion through the "ghost building" of the Customs Evaluation and Classification Institute (Gwanpyeongwon) under the Korea Customs Service in Sejong City, the Special Investigation Headquarters has assigned the case to the Daejeon Police Agency. Yoo Jae-sung, the Special Investigation Headquarters’ public relations officer (Police Science Investigation Manager), said, "We will conduct a swift and strict investigation."

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