Mr. Mun Heung-sik, Who Fled Abroad Immediately After the 'Gwangju Building Collapse Disaster,' Returns to Korea After 91 Days

Police Execute Arrest Warrant at Incheon Airport... Summoned from Gwangju

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Moon Heung-sik, who is suspected of intervening in various interests related to the collapse accident of a demolition building in Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, which resulted in 17 casualties, returned to Korea after 91 days of fleeing overseas.

According to the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency on the 11th, Moon arrived at Incheon Airport around 6 p.m. that day.

He was originally scheduled to arrive around 5:40 p.m., but the flight was delayed by about 20 minutes.

The police immediately executed an arrest warrant on Moon upon his arrival to secure his custody, conducted a COVID-19 test, and then transported him to Gwangju.

Moon left for Seattle, USA, on June 13, four days after the collapse accident of a demolition building in the Hakdong 4 District redevelopment area in Dong-gu, Gwangju, which occurred on June 9.

He was identified as having exerted influence over the entire redevelopment project, placing him under police investigation, and his departure was considered a flight just before being booked.

Since then, the police have been in continuous contact with Moon, his associates, and lawyers, persuading him to voluntarily return. Through his lawyers, Moon expressed his intention to return around August 14, but ultimately did not board the flight to Korea.

Moon had obtained a tourist visa at the time of departure, and the risk of being forcibly summoned as an illegal overstayer after the visa expired appears to be a major reason.

The police are expected to focus their investigation on allegations that Moon intervened in the selection process of the redevelopment company in Hakdong, Dong-gu.

A, who acted as a broker along with Moon, was prosecuted first, and the first trial was held last month at the Gwangju District Court.

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