Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office Reviews Investigation Deliberation Committee on Indictment of Baek Woon-gyu and Others in 'Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Suspicion' Case

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office is reportedly considering holding a Prosecutorial Investigation Deliberation Committee (Investigation Deliberation Committee) to decide whether to indict former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Baek Woon-gyu and others in connection with the allegations of manipulation of the economic feasibility evaluation of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1.

According to the legal community on the 29th, Daejeon District Prosecutor General Noh Jeong-hwan reportedly instructed the investigation team of the 5th Criminal Division (Chief Prosecutor Lee Sang-hyun), which investigated the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant case, to "look into the possibility of holding an Investigation Deliberation Committee related to this case."

This appears to be a decision made after reporting to Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo. Previously, Prosecutor General Noh conveyed the opinions of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office chief prosecutors to Kim, stating that "former Minister Baek, former Blue House Industrial Policy Secretary Chae Hee-bong (current President of Korea Gas Corporation), and Jung Jae-hoon, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), should be indicted on charges including obstruction of business."

The Investigation Deliberation Committee is handled by the Prosecutorial Citizens' Committee, which consists of 40 citizens active in fields such as education, civic groups, and social welfare.

The committee members review cases requested by the suspect's side or cases that have drawn local interest, then provide the prosecution with judgments on the appropriateness of indictments, non-indictments, or requests for arrest warrants. The prosecution is not obligated to follow the decisions of the Investigation Deliberation Committee.

Previously, the side of former Secretary Chae Hee-bong applied for the convening of the Investigation Deliberation Committee but was rejected.

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