Prosecutors Summon Seongnam City Officials as Witnesses in 'Daejangdong Project' Investigation... Lee Seongmun, Former Hwacheondaeyu CEO, Recalled

Kim Man-bae and Nam Wook Detention Expected Soon

Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seocho-dong, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] On the 29th, the prosecution investigating allegations of preferential treatment and lobbying in the Daejang-dong development project summoned a staff member from the department in charge of the Daejang-dong development project at Seongnam City Hall as a witness for questioning. The prosecution also re-summoned former Hwacheon Daeyu CEO Lee Seong-moon for investigation.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office dedicated investigation team (Team Leader Kim Tae-hoon, 4th Deputy Prosecutor) summoned Mr. A, a member of the Strategic Development Team of the Urban Balanced Development Division under the Cultural City Project Group at Seongnam City Hall, as a witness from the morning to verify the overall Daejang-dong development project.

The Urban Balanced Development Division within the Cultural City Project Group, the successor to the Urban Development Project Group, was responsible for the entire project from planning to approval changes of the Daejang-dong development project.

This division also approved the 'Pangyo Daejang Urban Development Project Amendment Plan' submitted by 'Seongnam's Garden,' the project implementer of the Daejang-dong development project, in November 2016, which increased the floor area ratio.

Earlier, during a search and seizure at Seongnam City Hall on the 15th, the prosecution secured various project approval and permit documents related to the Daejang-dong development project from the Urban Balanced Development Division.

Additionally, the prosecution re-summoned former CEO Lee, who was previously questioned on the 6th, as a witness for further investigation on this day.

Formerly practicing as a lawyer, Lee took on the role of CEO of Hwacheon Daeyu at the recommendation of Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu and an alumnus of Sungkyunkwan University, but recently stepped down from the position.

The prosecution appears to be conducting final preparations to secure the custody of lawyer Nam Wook, owner of Cheonhwa Dongin No. 4, who was investigated after the execution of an arrest warrant and then released, while continuing to investigate related parties, including Kim, whose detention warrant was previously dismissed.

It is widely expected that the prosecution will reapply for an arrest warrant against Kim as early as this weekend or by next week at the latest. In particular, there is keen interest inside and outside the prosecution regarding how the investigation team will be organized to investigate Kim's breach of trust charges.

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