Prosecutors Consider Additional Charges of 'Bribery Offering' Against Kim Man-bae

Intensive Investigation of Lobbying Allegations Against Prominent Figures Before Detention Period Expires... Possible Summons of Former Lawmaker Kwak Sang-do

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] The prosecution investigating allegations of preferential treatment and lobbying in the Daejang-dong development in Seongnam City is considering additional indictment against Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu. This concerns the bribery charges against former lawmaker Kwak Sang-do, which were included in Kim's first arrest warrant request but omitted in the second. Former lawmaker Kwak is likely to be questioned as early as this week.

According to the legal community on the 15th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's special investigation team for the Daejang-dong development allegations (led by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Tae-hoon) plans to intensively question Kim about lobbying suspicions involving influential figures in politics and the legal community until Kim's detention period ends on the 22nd.

Previously, the investigation team excluded the 5 billion KRW bribery charge against former lawmaker Kwak, which was included in Kim's first arrest warrant, from the second warrant's criminal facts. It was alleged that Kim paid 5 billion KRW to Kwak's son, Byung-chae, as consolation and retirement money, but at the time, the embezzlement charge was dropped due to ongoing investigations.

The investigation team suspects that former lawmaker Kwak helped Kim during the consortium formation stage of Hwacheon Daeyu, and as a reward, a large retirement payment was made. Kim denied receiving help from Kwak and explained that the money Byung-chae received was for industrial accident consolation, but the investigation team regards the 5 billion KRW as a bribe to former lawmaker Kwak.

Based on Kim's interrogation, the investigation team is expected to summon former lawmaker Kwak this week to question him about the overall lobbying allegations. The key point is to confirm circumstances where Kwak, at Kim's request, exerted influence on Hana Bank to prevent the collapse of the Hana Bank consortium.

In the same context, Deputy Manager Lee, who was in charge of practical work during the formation of the Hana Bank consortium, has been summoned several times as a witness. Lee also served as an outside director at 'Seongnam Eutteul,' the Daejang-dong development project company, and was questioned about whether there was any political or governmental lobbying during the process of Hana Bank forming a consortium with Hwacheon Daeyu.

Kim is also linked to lobbying allegations involving former special prosecutor Park Young-soo and former Supreme Court Justice Kwon Soon-il. Before his appointment as special prosecutor in 2016, Park served as an advisor to Hwacheon Daeyu for several months. Notably, Park's daughter joined Hwacheon Daeyu in June 2015 and worked there until recently, and she also purchased one apartment unit in Daejang-dong owned by the company. Last week, evidence surfaced that lawyer Nam Wook and accountant Jung Young-hak prepared the Daejang-dong development bid at the law firm Gangnam, where former special prosecutor Park served as the lead attorney.

Former Supreme Court Justice Kwon became controversial after expressing a not guilty opinion in the public election law violation case of former Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung (Democratic Party presidential candidate) and then serving as legal advisor to Hwacheon Daeyu. The investigation team has secured Kim's access records to the Supreme Court building, where he flaunted his friendship with former Justice Kwon, but no summons or search and seizure investigations have been conducted yet.

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