Local Journalist Arrested for Accepting Bribes in Exchange for Providing Information on the Hantangang Development Project

Kim Ki-pyo, Former Anti-Corruption Secretary, Completes Complainant Investigation on 'Speculation Allegations'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] A current journalist was arrested for accepting bribes under the pretext of requests related to the development project around the Hantan River.

According to the government joint special investigation headquarters (Special Investigation Headquarters) on the 2nd, the court issued an arrest warrant for a regional journalist A, who was charged with violating the Attorney-at-Law Act the previous day. The arrest warrant for former police officer B, who was also charged, was dismissed.

They are suspected of providing development project information and accepting bribes in exchange for requests from 2017 until last year. Regarding the dismissal of the warrant for B, the Special Investigation Headquarters explained, "The court did not issue an arrest warrant because the crime was acknowledged and there was no concern of evidence tampering."

They have also launched a full-scale investigation into former Blue House Anti-Corruption Secretary Kim Ki-pyo, who is suspected of real estate speculation. The police questioned Kwon Min-sik, the representative of the Judicial Examination Preparation Group (Sajunmo), as a complainant the previous day. Sajunmo requested in a complaint submitted to the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency on the 27th of last month that an investigation be conducted into whether former Secretary Kim, in collusion with an acquaintance who is a relative, transferred ownership of land in Songjeong-dong, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi Province, through a method of name trust. A Special Investigation Headquarters official said, "We will investigate according to procedures based on the investigation content."

Investigations into high-ranking officials are still progressing slowly. Among the 23 lawmakers under investigation, only one, Jeong Chan-min of the People Power Party, has been summoned for questioning so far. They are coordinating a summons schedule with Kim Kyung-hyeop of the Democratic Party, who is suspected of failing to report land purchases. Additionally, on the 29th of last month, they conducted a search and seizure at Changwon City Hall in Gyeongnam regarding allegations of excessive land compensation involving Kang Ki-yoon of the People Power Party, and are currently analyzing the secured materials.

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