Mungheung-sik Moon, Fugitive Abroad After Gwangju Collapse Disaster, Arrested at Airport... Transported in Protective Suit (Comprehensive)

Fleeing to the U.S. Four Days After Collapse Disaster... Visa Expired, Returns Three Months After Departure
Involved in Selection of Demolition Contractor at Disaster Site for 'Bribery'... Accomplice Already Detained

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Moon Heung-sik, former president of the May 18 Detained and Injured Association (61), who was involved in the selection process of companies related to the Gwangju demolition building collapse disaster, has voluntarily returned to Korea after fleeing overseas.

The Gwangju Police Agency Investigation Headquarters (Anti-Corruption Economic Crime Investigation Unit) executed an arrest warrant at Incheon International Airport on the 11th when Moon, who had fled to the United States, voluntarily returned.

On that day, Moon was arrested at around 6:10 p.m. immediately after disembarking from a flight arriving at Incheon Airport from Seattle, USA.

Fearing COVID-19 infection, the police dressed Moon in protective clothing and handcuffed him before transporting him to Gwangju.

Reporters questioned Moon, who came out of the departure area, about whether he admitted to the charges, but he did not respond at all.

Moon is currently under investigation for violating the Attorney-at-Law Act and other charges after receiving hundreds of millions of won in bribes from companies directly responsible for the demolition building collapse disaster, along with accomplices, to facilitate company selection.

He was identified as a figure deeply involved in the redevelopment project site from the early stages of the collapse disaster but fled to the United States four days after the disaster and had not returned for three months.

The police belatedly registered Moon, who fled overseas, issued an arrest warrant, and continuously persuaded Moon’s lawyer to convince him to return.

Additionally, the police arrested Lee (74), a broker accomplice who received hundreds of millions of won in bribes along with Moon in exchange for facilitating company selection related to the collapse disaster.

Moon had announced his intention to voluntarily return around mid-August but suddenly canceled it.

After transporting Moon to Gwangju, the police will focus their investigation on his involvement in the selection of demolition companies related to the demolition building collapse disaster.

Since Moon has a history of fleeing before being registered, the police must request a detention warrant within 48 hours after his arrest and proceed with his custody.

COVID-19 quarantine measures may affect the investigation schedule as a variable.

Moon left the country without vaccination but received the vaccine in the United States and obtained a "quarantine exemption certificate" from the local consulate.

The police plan to conduct the investigation wearing protective clothing to prevent possible COVID-19 spread and expedite the custody process.

Also, to prepare for the possibility of infection during the custody period, they arranged for Moon to be isolated alone in a detention cell at one police station in Gwangju.

A police official said, "Since Moon’s custody has been secured, we plan to investigate him based on the investigation results so far and proceed with his custody."

The police have registered 18 people so far in connection with company selection and redevelopment corruption related to the demolition building collapse disaster, with one person detained.

They confirmed that brokers including Moon received bribes from demolition companies and others in exchange for facilitating company selection, and are specifically verifying whether the prime contractor and the association were involved in the company selection through searches and seizures.

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