Current Journalist Arrested for Accepting Bribes in Exchange for Favoring 'Hantan River Development Project' (Comprehensive)

"Will Investigate the Case Information" Former Police Officer Dismissed

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] A current journalist was arrested for accepting bribes in exchange for favors related to the development projects around the Hantan River area.

According to the government joint special investigation headquarters (Special Investigation Unit) on the 2nd, the court issued an arrest warrant for journalist A from a certain region, 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 receiving money and goods in exchange for providing information and favors related to development projects from 2017 until last year. It is reported that A received bribes worth hundreds of millions of won under the pretext of helping land speculation groups obtain permits.

Additionally, B is suspected of pocketing tens of millions of won by offering to look into the investigation details as the police inquiry progressed. Regarding the dismissal of B’s arrest warrant, the Special Investigation Unit explained, "The court did not issue an arrest warrant because the suspect admitted to the crime and there was no concern of evidence tampering."

Busan Metropolitan Police Agency is investigating land speculation charges in the Pocheon area of Gyeonggi Province, questioning officials from Busan-based unauthorized financial companies and current and former public officials in the Gyeonggi area. It is also reported that the police have identified circumstances involving a former general-level military officer linked to a military unit.

The police 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 head of the Judicial Examination Preparation Group (Sajunmo), as a complainant the day before. Sajunmo requested in a complaint submitted to the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency on the 27th of last month that the police investigate whether former secretary Kim, in collusion with an acquaintance related by kinship, transferred ownership of land in Songjeong-dong, Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province, through a name-trust method. A Special Investigation Unit official said, "We will proceed with the investigation according to procedures based on the investigation details."

Investigations into high-ranking officials remain slow. Among the 23 lawmakers under investigation, only one, Jeong Chan-min of the People Power Party, has been summoned for questioning so far. The police are coordinating a summons schedule with Kim Kyung-hyup of the Democratic Party, who is suspected of failing to report land purchases. Additionally, on the 29th of last month, the police conducted a search and seizure at Changwon City Hall in Gyeongnam regarding allegations of excessive land compensation to lawmaker 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.