'Wolseong Nuclear Plant Controversy' Baek Woon-gyu Investigation Review Delayed… Supreme Prosecutors' Office "Considering COVID-19 for Review"

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The prosecution's investigation committee to determine the embezzlement charges against former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Baek Woon-gyu regarding the alleged economic feasibility manipulation of 'Wolseong Unit 1' is being delayed due to the impact of COVID-19. Earlier, the prosecution decided on June 30 to seek the committee's judgment on Baek's embezzlement charges.

According to the legal community on the 2nd, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office recently responded to a query from Kim Do-eup, a member of the People Power Party, about the timing of the committee meeting for former Minister Baek, stating that it is "under review considering various circumstances such as the second half of the year prosecution personnel changes and the escalation of COVID-19 alert levels."

Previously, the Criminal Division 5 of Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Sang-hyun) indicted former Minister Baek at the end of June on charges including abuse of authority and obstruction of rights for allegedly manipulating the economic feasibility evaluation of the Wolseong nuclear power plant. In particular, the prosecution also viewed that Baek had instructed Jeong Jae-hoon, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, to commit embezzlement. However, Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo ordered a suspension of indictment and instructed convening the investigation committee to decide whether to indict.

If the investigation committee convenes, it will decide on additional indictments against former Minister Baek and recommend related matters to the investigation team. However, the committee's deliberation results are not binding.

Meanwhile, former Minister Baek, along with former Blue House Industrial Policy Secretary Chae Hee-bong, is currently indicted on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of business for submitting a 'Facility Status Survey Form' to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power in November 2017, which included opinions on the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1.

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