Prosecutors Conduct Search and Seizure at Former Tax Office Chief Yoon Woo-jin's Residence over 'Sponsor Suspicion'

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution investigating allegations related to Yoon Woo-jin, former head of the Yongsan Tax Office and older brother of Yoon Dae-jin, head of planning at the Legal Research and Training Institute and close aide to former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, is reported to have conducted a search and seizure at Yoon’s residence.

According to the legal community on the 13th, the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Investigation Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office (Chief Prosecutor Jeong Yong-hwan) carried out a search and seizure on the 10th at Yoon’s residence in Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, as well as at the homes and offices of businessman Choi, a close associate of Yoon, and businessman Kim, who was in partnership with Choi, securing relevant materials.

The prosecution reportedly launched the search and seizure to obtain documents related to real estate development projects in the Yeongjongdo area of Incheon from 2016 to 2018. Once the analysis of the materials is complete, related parties including Yoon are expected to be summoned sequentially.

This case was triggered when businessman A filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office last November, alleging that Yoon acted as a “sponsor” for Yoon Woo-jin and provided entertainment to prosecutors and other high-ranking public officials, prompting the prosecution to tighten its investigation.

In the complaint, A stated that Yoon was repeatedly taken to meetings with current and former prosecutors, senior officials from the National Tax Service, and the police between 2018 and 2019, where Yoon covered meal and golf expenses. It is also reported that A testified that between 2016 and 2018, he delivered lobbying funds amounting to 430 million won to Yoon in connection with real estate development projects in Incheon. A also raised suspicions that Yoon attempted to bribe him with a check exceeding 100 million won.

Separately, the Criminal Division 13 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office (Chief Prosecutor Lim Dae-hyuk) is investigating allegations that Yoon received bribes such as golf outings from meat importers around 2013 and that the prosecution covered up the case.

Yoon fled the country while under police investigation for these charges in 2012 but was arrested overseas and forcibly repatriated. However, in 2015, the prosecution cleared him of charges.

There were also allegations that former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who was head of the Central Investigation Division 1 at the time, introduced lawyer Lee Nam-seok, a former member of the Central Investigation Division, to Yoon Woo-jin.

In 2019, when the National Assembly held a confirmation hearing for former Prosecutor General Yoon, then-Legislator Joo Kwang-deok of the Liberty Korea Party filed a complaint accusing Yoon Woo-jin of bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

In response, then-Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae exercised her authority to direct investigations in October last year, excluding former Prosecutor General Yoon from the investigation command line regarding Yoon Woo-jin’s allegations and ordering the investigation team to conduct a swift inquiry.

The prosecution has conducted investigations including search and seizure at golf courses suspected to have been visited by Yoon, the National Tax Service headquarters, the Central Regional National Tax Service, and the Yeongdeungpo Tax Office.

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