Prosecutors Summon Lawyer Claiming 'Hwacheondaeyu-SK Group' Connection Allegations

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] The prosecution investigating allegations of preferential treatment and lobbying in the Daejang-dong development in Seongnam City has summoned lawyer Jeon Seok-jin, who claimed a connection between Hwacheon Daeyu and SK Group, as a witness for questioning.

According to the legal community on the 17th, the dedicated investigation team of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (team leader Kim Tae-hoon) summoned lawyer Jeon in the afternoon for questioning.

Previously, lawyer Jeon had asserted through interviews and social media that the real owner of Hwacheon Daeyu, a private developer involved in the Daejang-dong project, is Choi Tae-won, chairman of SK Group. Hwacheon Daeyu received an investment of about 35 billion won from Kin & Partners, an investment advisory firm involved at the early stage of the project. Kin & Partners reportedly raised this investment fund by borrowing 40 billion won from Choi Ki-won, chairman of the SK Happiness Foundation and younger brother of Chairman Choi Tae-won.

Based on the fact that Chairman Choi lent a large sum without collateral to Kin & Partners, which was in poor financial condition, lawyer Jeon claimed that Hwacheon Daeyu and SK Group have a hidden special relationship. In particular, he mentioned that the real owner of Hwacheon Daeyu is Chairman Choi Tae-won, not Kim Man-bae. The investigation team plans to receive and review materials related to these claims from lawyer Jeon.

Earlier, SK Group denied lawyer Jeon's claims as baseless rumors and filed a complaint against him for defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection. This case, in which lawyer Jeon is the accused, is currently under police investigation.

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