Prosecution Indicts Baek Woon-gyu, Chae Hee-bong, and Jeong Jae-hoon Without Detention in 'Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant' Case (Comprehensive)

Former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Baek Woon-kyu / Photo by Jin-hyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The prosecution has indicted former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Baek Woon-gyu, 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), in connection with allegations of manipulation of the economic feasibility evaluation of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1.

On the 30th, the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office filed non-detention indictments against former Minister Baek and former Secretary Chae on charges of abuse of authority, obstruction of rights, and obstruction of business, and against President Jung on charges of violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (breach of trust) and obstruction of business.

Former Minister Baek is accused of conspiring with former Secretary Chae to have KHNP submit a "Facility Status Survey" in November 2017, which included an intention to prematurely shut down Wolseong Unit 1, whose design life was guaranteed to operate until November 2022. According to the prosecution, KHNP initially opposed the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1, citing expected large-scale losses and lack of legal grounds.

They are also charged with deciding at a board meeting on June 15 of the following year to prematurely shut down Wolseong Unit 1 and immediately halt its operation.

President Jung, who was indicted together, is accused of manipulating the economic feasibility evaluation results of Wolseong Unit 1 under the direction of former Minister Baek, deceiving the board with the manipulated evaluation results to obtain a resolution for immediate suspension of operation, causing approximately 148.1 billion KRW in damages to KHNP.

Meanwhile, a prosecution official stated, "Regarding the charge of instigation by former Minister Baek against President Jung, the decision on whether to indict will be made after the review by the Investigation Review Committee, which was convened ex officio by Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo."

The Investigation Review Committee is a body where external experts discuss whether to continue prosecution or indictments. When a party involved in a case requests a review, the jurisdictional Prosecutors' Citizen Committee first decides whether to refer the matter. Former Secretary Chae had previously requested a review by the Investigation Review Committee, but it was dismissed.

A prosecution official added, "While making every effort to maintain the prosecution, investigations will continue according to law and principles for some additional accused individuals."

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